ANIS, ROAD-RUNNERS, AND CUCKOOS 193 



ORDER COCCYGES: CUCKOOS, ETC. 



(Families Cuculid^, Tkogoxid.e, and ALCEDixiDiE.) 



FAMILY CUCULIDiE: ANIS. ROAD-RUNNERS, AND 

 CUCKOOS. 



KEY TO GENERA. 



1. Tail feathers 8 Crotophaga, p. 193. 



1. Tail feathers 10. 



2. Bill long-er than head Geococcyx. p. 193. 



2'. Bill not longer than head Coccyzus, p. 195. 



GENUS CROTOPHAGA. 



384. Crotophaga sulcirostris Sicaitis. Groove-billed Anl 



Bill thick, with a convex crest ; wings rounded ; tail feathers broad, 

 widening to very obtuse ends. Adults : 



dull black, feathers of body with ,.^^^^^^^^___ 

 metallic bluish, greenish, or bronzy ^^^^^^^^^v^^)^ 

 edgings ; wings and tail faintly glossed ^" 



with metallic bluish or violet ; upper part of bill with several distinct 

 grooves. Young: uniform sootv black. Length: 12.00-14.50, wing 5..50- 

 0.50, tail 7.:)0-S.;^(). 



Distribution. — In Lower Sonoran and Tropical zones from southern 

 Texas south to Peru. Casual in southern parts of California, Arizona, 

 Louisiana, and Florida. 



Nest. — Bulky, made of twigs and lined with green leaves, placed often 

 in an orange or lemon tree. J^ggs : o to 5. niilky blue. 



Food. — Grasshoppers, and parasites of cattle. 



The groove-billed anis are residents of the lowlands. Major 

 Bcndire says, rarely being found at an altitude of more than 700 

 feet. 



They resemble tiie cowbirds in their habit of following cattle, and 

 not only catch the insects that the cows start up but do a great deal 

 of good by relieving the animals of the parasites which infest them. 

 When not disturbed the birds become very tame and roost in num- 

 bers about the houses. Their call -note. Dr. Ralph thinks, suggests 

 that of the flicker — a picero repeated rapidly. 



GENUS GEOCOCCYX. 

 .'585. Geococcyx californianus (Lf.s.s.). Road-runner. 



Bare space around cyi', or.in^e and bhu' ; featlicrs of head and neck 

 largt'ly bristle-tijjped ; whole ])luni:ig(' coarse and harsh ; <'ytlids lashed ; 

 wings short :in(l concavo-convex, with long inner secondaries folded entirely 

 over prim.-iries ; t.iil long and graduated ; upper part.s conspicuously 

 streaked with brownisli whit(>. most he.ivily on wings ; crest and fore parts 

 of It.uk glossed with bluish black, changing to bronzy tureen or brown; 

 tail long, plain bronzy, blue black, and green, graduated, tips with white 



