348 coccvGins amerwanvs. 



These l)ir(ls are extremely solicitous for the safety of their young and care for them 

 long after they have left the nests. It is tlifficult to tell exactly ^vhen the Cuckoos take 

 their (leparture as in autumn they are nuich more retiring in habit than in spring and as t.lio 

 note is seldom giA'en tlien, they must be seen. in order to ascertain their pi'esencc. I have 

 found them as late as the last of September in Pennsylvania and the Bangs Brothers ob- 

 tained one in Waltham, Massachusetts, as late as the middle of October but this is excep- 

 tional for it is probable that the majority depart in early September. 



COCCYGUS AMEEICANUS. 

 Yellow-billed Cuckoo. 



Ctxr.ijijus Ainericanus ]>oN'., Obs. Wils.; 1825, 47. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cii. Fovin, viUher rolm^t. Sizf, mciliuiii. Sternum, rather stout. Tongue, long, tliin, wide at the base, and 

 quite hurny, espuoially near the tip which i~; Iiilid, andalioutone thinl of tlie terminal jiortiun of the sides is provided with 

 coarse cilia. Space around eye, naked. 



Color. Adull. Above, includin;^ win2;s and central tail, plumVieous-brown with a greenish gloss everywhere except- 

 ing on top of the bead. Beneath, white, with tlie under wing coverts overwa.sbed with yellowish. Three fourths of the 

 Ija.sal portion of the inner webs of the wing feathei-s are dark-cinnamon wdiich encroaches upon the outer webs. Central 

 pair of tail feathers slightly tipped with black, remaining feathers nearly lilack, excepting liasal portion of the more central, 

 tipped with white which extends along the outer webs of outer feathers. Spot in front of eye, ring around it, and trian- 

 gular area liack of it, dusky. Naked space anmnd eye, yellowish. Bill, black, yellow on b;vsal three fourths of lower man- 

 dible and on edges of corrcspon<ling portion of upper. Feet, bluish. 



Younj. Very similar to the aljovc but the tail is not as dark and there is less yellow on the lower mandible and none 

 on the edges of the upper. 



Nesllinc/s. Are not unlike the above. There is a more decided greenish gloss. The top of the head is lighter. Feath- 

 ers of the upper parts, nan-owly eiged with white. Bill, wholly black, excepting a small spot of yellow on the center of 

 lower mandilde. Sexes, similar in all stages. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Specimens vary greatly in size as in the preceding s|5ecies. Judging from a nestling ■which yet retains a trace of the egg 

 tootli, this organ is not shed as is usual but is worn away, (see observations on page 21ti) . Readily known from the Black- 

 billed Cuckoo by the yellow bill, cinnamon on the wings, and broader white tipjiing to the tail. Difi'ei's from the Man- 

 grove Cuckoo as given under that head. Distributed during summer throughout Eastern United States from the latitude 

 of Georgia to that of the White Mountains. Wintei-s in South America. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of thirteen specimens from New England. Length, irSr); stretch, 19'25; wing, 5'75; tail, 5'50; 

 bill, •72; tarsus, -92. Longest specimen, 12-70; greatest extent of wing, 2()"00; longest wing, 6'00; tail, O'OO; hill,- 80; tar- 

 sus, '95. Shortest specimen, Il'OO; smallest extent of wing, 18'50; shortest wing, 5'50; tail, 4' 10; bill, '75; tarsus, TOO. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed in trees and bushes, flat in form and very loosely constructed of sticks, pine needles, leaves, and weeds, 

 lined with leaves, catkins of the willow, etc. Dimensions, external diameter, U'OO, internal, 4'50. External depth, 2'00, 

 internal, •7.5. 



Effr/s, four in number, elliptical in form, light greenish blue in color, unspotted, but sometimes overwashed with whit- 

 ish. Dimensions from l^lOx '75 to r28x 'SO. 



HABITS. 



Although the Yellow-billed Cuckoo is found regularly in Pennsylvania and is always 

 as abundant as the Black-billed, yet it is quite irregular in this respect in New England. 

 Some seasons it will be very common and at others it is extremely difficult to find a spec- 



