486 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



that of the Yellow-bill. It is composed of twites, roots, fine strips of bark, 

 and moss, and is sometimes interwoven and partially lined with the soft cat- 

 kins of trees and blossoms of plants. The eggs vary from three to six in num- 

 ber, and are often found to have been deposited, and incubation commenced 

 on them, at irregular intervals, and to be in various stages of development 

 in the same nest. I have hardly been able to observe a sufficient number 

 of their nests to be able to state whether this species carries this irregularity 

 so far as the Yellow-bill, nor am I aware that it has ever been known to 

 extend its incubations into so late a period of the season. It is, if anything, 

 more devoted to its offspring than the Yellow-bill. Both parents are as- 

 siduous in the duties of incubation, and in supplying food to each other and 

 to their offspring. In one instance, where the female had been shot by a 

 thoughtless boy, as she flew from the nest, the male bird successfully devoted 

 himself to the solitary duty of rearing the brood of five. At the time of 

 the death of the female tlie nest contained two eggs and three young birds. 

 The writer was present when the bird was shot, and was unable to interpose 

 in season to prevent it. Returning to the spot not long afterwards, he found 

 the widowed male sitting upon the nest, and so unwilling to leave it as 

 almost to permit himself to be captured by the hand. His fidelity and his 

 entreaties were not disregarded. His nest, eggs, and young, were left undis- 

 turbed ; and, as they were visited from time to time, the young nestlings 

 were found to thrive under his vigilant care. The eggs were hatched out, 

 and in time the whole five were reared in safety. This single incident 

 shows how wide is the interval between these Cuckoos and their European 

 namesakes. 



The egg resembles that of the other, but is more spherical and of a much 

 darker shade of green. The color is equally fugitive, and even in a close 

 cabinet fades so that the eggs of the two species are undistinguishable, ex- 

 cept in size and shape. This egg averages 1.10 inches in length by .90 of 

 an inch in breadth. 



Genus CROTOPHAGA, LiNNiEus. 

 Crotophaga, Linn^us, Systema Xaturse, 1756. (Type, C. ani, Linn). 



Gen. Char. Bill as long as the head, very much compressed ; the culmen elevated into 

 a high crest, extending above the level of the forehead. Nostrils exposed, elongated. 

 Point of bill much decurved. Wings lengthened, extending beyond the base of the tail, 

 the fourth or fifth quill longest. Tail lengthened, of eight graduated feathers. Toes long, 

 vv^ith well-developed claws. 



The feathers in this genus are entirely black ; those on the head and neck 

 with a peculiar stiffened metallic or scale-like border. The species are not 

 numerous, and are entirely confined to America. 



Of Crotophaga, two species have heretofore been recognized in the United 



