346 Proceed i)i(/.s of hididiid Academy o/ Science. 



93. Nyctea nyctea (Liniiii'iis). snowy owl. (376) 



The only certain record I have of the occurrence of this magnificent owl 

 in Vigo County is that of an adult male captured November 20, 1889, by Mr. 

 Elijah Liston, 2% miles southeast of Pimento, or about 14 miles south of 

 Torre Haute. Liston saw it alight upon a strawstack. Firing at it with 

 a small Flobert gun, the tip of one wing \vas brolien, which enabled Mr. 

 Liston to capture it. The owl died December 9, and was brought to us. It 

 is very w'hite and is, withal, a very fine specimen. 



While this is the only example of this species known to me from Vigo 

 County, in the winter of 1887-8 as many as eight were taken in Indiana, all 

 before Holidays. About the same time this specimen was taken in Vigo 

 County, we received in the flesh, two other fine examples, — one from Prof. 

 F. M. McFarland, Olivet, Michigan. December 2, and one from Vermilion. 

 Soutli Dakota, whence it was sent us by Dr. S. G. Agersborg, January 5, 

 1890. I have a report of the capture of one near Camden in the winter of 

 1865. 



94. COCCYZUS AMERICANt'S AMERICANUS (LiuUfeUS). 

 Y-ELT.OW-BILLED CUCKOO. (887) 



A common summer resident : usually more numerous than the Black-billed 

 species. 



The cuckoos are among the most strange and interesting of our birds. 

 They are very quiet, noiseless and ghost-like in their movements. One may 

 remain for an hour or more in an apple-tree over your head without attract- 

 ing your attention, although it may be moving about all the time from limb 

 to limb, gleaning caterpillars of which they are very fond. You learn of its 

 presence only when it flies to another tree, and you see it only then if you 

 happen to be looking in the direction of its flight, for it is as noiseless in its 

 flight as it is while feeding. 



With us, its favorite nesting sites are on horizontal limbs of old apple 

 trees. The nest is a poorly constructed affair, suggesting that the time may 

 come, in the evolution of the species, when our cuckoos will abandon the 

 building of any nest whatever and degenerate to the level of their European 

 cousins, which drop their eggs in the nests of other birds. 



Botli of our species of cuckoos are generally and usually called Rain Crow 

 in Indiana. This has some justification in the fact that their doleful song, 

 if it may be called a song, is most often heard on quiet days in summer and 

 early fall when clouds are forming and rain is imminent. Besides this 

 note which presages rain, they have another note or call which plainly 

 suggests the noise made by water pouring from a jug. 



Carroll County: May 11, 1878. one taken at Camden: .Tune 30, 1885, full 

 set of fresh eggs ; seen at many other times. 



Monroe County: May 5. 1880. noted. Vi(/o CounUi: May is. 1888, noted. 



95. COCCYZUS ERY'THROI>TirAL]SrUS (Wilson). BLACK-BILI.ED CUCKOO. (388) 



A common summer resident. T^p to about 1884, this species appeared to be 

 less common than tlie Yellow-billed Cuckoo, but since then it seems to have 

 become relatively as common. 



