YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO. 391 
Belg. xxxix. p. 9), and the other near Turin in October 1883 (E. Cavendish 
Taylor, ‘Ibis,’ 1884, p. 115). 
The Yellow-billed Cuckoo has a very extensive range on the American 
continent, breeding as far north as New Brunswick and Minnesota, and 
as far south as the West Indies. Its lateral range is equally extensive, 
reaching from the Atlantic to the Pacific. In winter it is found in Central 
America and the northern portions of South America, probably as far 
south as Buenos Ayres. An example was shot in Greenland in 1874. 
The Yellow-billed Cuckoo is as well known in North America as the 
Common Cuckoo is in England, and its appearance in spring is looked 
forward to and welcomed in a similar manner. It frequents orchards, 
woods and groves, and dense timbered swamps, where it seeks the most 
secluded places amongst the foliage ; for, like our Cuckoo, it is a somewhat 
shy and solitary bird, though I have seen it in the Central Park in New 
York. It arrives in the Northern States about the third week in April, 
but in the Southern States it already has eggs at that date. It-leaves 
Pennsylvania about the middle of September for its winter-quarters. The 
males are said to arrive first, as is the case with many other migratory 
birds, and are followed by the females a little later. Writing of the note 
of this species, Wilson remarks :—“ A stranger who visits the United 
States for the purpose of examining their natural productions, and passes 
through our woods in the month of May or June, will sometimes hear, as 
he traverses the borders of deep, retired, high-timbered hollows, an uncouth 
guttural sound or note, resembling the syllables howe, kowe, kowe, kowe, 
kowe! beginning slowly, but ending so rapidly, that the notes seem to run 
into each other, and vice versd ; he will hear this frequently without being 
able to discover the bird or animal from which it proceeds, as it is both 
shy and solitary, seeking always the thickest foliage for concealment. 
This is the Yellow-billed Cuckoo, the subject of the present account. 
From the imitative sound of its note it is known in many parts by the name 
of the Cow-bird ; it is also called in Virginia the Rain-Crow, being observed 
to be most clamorous immediately before rain.” 
Nuttall says that the Yellow-billed Cuckoo often calls during the night ; 
and in the daytime his voice is incessantly heard near his nest, where, as a 
sentinel, he watches over the sacred spot and guards it from all intruders. 
Dr. Coues writes :—“It is a rather shy and unfamiliar species, inhabiting 
high, open woods, as well as the large shade-trees of parks and cities, and 
generally remains high among the branches. When dashing about in 
active pursuit of the various large-winged insects that form its chief food, 
they are conspicuous objects, the metallic olive-grey flashing in the sun, 
and the snowy underparts contrasting with verdure. But ordinarily they 
are hidden birds, oftener heard than. seen ; they pass from one tree to 
another stealthily, with a rapid, gliding, noiseless flight, and often rest 
