400 HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS 



(Birds)," vol. i. p. 364. In the Museum of Trinity 

 College, Dublin. 



One near Bellingham, North Tyne, Aug. 5, 1870 : Charl- 

 ton, Field, Sept. 3, 1870. Identified by Proctor of 

 Durham, who preserved it for Mr, Charlton ; now in 

 the Museum at Newcastle-on-Tyne. 



One near Caister, Yarmouth, Oct. 18, 1896, after a gale 

 from the N.E. : Gurney, Zool., 1897, p. 135. 



Ohs. This rare wanderer from the south, so com- 

 pletely out of its latitude in the British Islands, is 

 not only a much larger bird than our Cuckoo, as 

 may be seen by a comparison of the measurements, 

 but also differs from it conspicuously in having 

 spotted wings and an ample crest, a peculiarity 

 which has led to its generic separation from Cuculus. 

 Like our bird, however, it is parasitic in its habits, 

 usually invading the nests of Magpies, and therein 

 depositing its eggs, which resemble theirs in size and 

 markings. In a former edition of Yarrell's " British 

 Birds " another specimen of the great Spotted Cuckoo 

 is mentioned as having been obtained at Lawrenny, 

 Pembrokeshire, and recorded, Zool., 1851, p. 3046 ; 

 but on turning to the volume and page indicated, it 

 appears that the communication has reference to an 

 example of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo, q.v. 



YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO. Coccyzus americanus 

 (Linnseus). Length, 11 in.; bill, 1 in.; wing, 5*5 in.; 

 tarsus, 1 in. 



Hab. Eastern United States, through Central America 

 and the West Indies to Buenos Ayres. 

 One, Youghal, co. Cork, autumn 1825 : Ball, Rennie's 



Field Nat. Mag., vol. i. p. 6, fig. ; Thompson, " Nat. 



