84 ORNITHOLOGY AND OOLOGY. 



he has found it breeding. While I have noticed, that, 

 though in former years it was equally abundant with the 

 Black-billed Cuckoo, this bird is now growing scarce in the 

 neighborhood of Boston. 



This species arrives from the South from about the 25th 

 of April to the 1st of May. We are first notified of his 

 arrival by hearing his harsh notes in the opening foliage ; 

 and presently we see him moving about the twigs, busily 

 picking off and swallowing the caterpillars and other larva? 

 which are so destructive to our fruit and shade trees. Soon 

 he passes to another tree, still pursuing his profitable 

 search; and, when he has gleaned to his heart's — or 

 rather stomach's — content, he launches himself into the 

 air, and takes flight for another grove or orchard, perhaps 

 a half-mile off, or even farther. His flight is rapid, con- 

 sisting of repeated strokes of his wings, but it is not 

 always direct ; for he frequently turns from a straight course 

 and flies off at an angle, then back again in a wavering- 

 manner. Occasionally, he pauses in his flight, and sud- 

 denly descends and alights on a shrub or low bush, as if he 

 perceived an enemy in the air or a friend in the bush. 

 After repeating his song, — '-'' Krow-kroiv-hrotv-krow-h'oiv ; kru- 

 kru, kru-kru, krKrkra,^'' — he is off again, and is soon out 

 of sight. 



The male arrives about ten days before the female. As 

 soon as the latter makes her appearance, the male com- 

 mences his courtship. He is very attentive to her, watch- 

 ing her every movement, and following her every flight. 

 Although usually very cowardly, he is at this period toler- 

 ably brave, and will even attempt to molest any other bird 

 that happens to be near, but usually with poor success ; for, 

 as his cowardice is traditional among the birds, they will 

 turn upon him, and drive him off discomfited. When the 

 couple have mated, they soon commence building. The 

 nest is placed in a low bough of a tree, or in a shrub or 

 barberry l^ush. It is a loose, straggling affair, composed of 



