146 BY-WAYVS AND BIRD-NOTES. 
notably in some species of woodpecker; but 
our cuckoos are the best instances for study. 
A good binocular glass and a season or two 
of patient observation will enable any intelli- 
gent person to detect a great deal of evidence 
of this tendency in cuckoos. The yellow- 
billed species carries its vacillating nature 
on its sleeve, as it were, and forces it upon 
consideration. The black-billed species is 
scarcely less peculiar at most points ; if there 
is a difference it is ot degree only. Even the 
ground cuckoo (Geococcyx californianus), is 
almost absurdly peculiar and oztré in its 
habits. Dr. Couessays: ‘ They are singular 
birds—cuckoos compounded of a chicken and 
amagpie! They prefer running on the ground 
to flying, only using their wings as auxiliary 
‘outriggers’ while darting along at almost 
race-horse speed.” Dr. Coues notes in the 
nest of this species the same slightness and 
apparent awkwardness of construction so 
marked in all cuckoo nests, “ As if,” he says, 
“‘the birds were just learning how to build.” 
Our Yellow-bill may be taken as the strong- 
est type of this strange family. Haunting our 
bloom-burdened and odorous Spring groves, 
like some restless spirit of remorse, furtively, 
dreamily, but ever with a look of suppressed 
pain, it has affected the popular mind as if 
with a superstition borne upon its own wings 
from some undiscovered country. Its voice 
is considered ominous not only of rain and 
storm, but of evil in all its mysterious and 
undefined forms. Of course this is an idle 
popular delusion; but it serves to point out 
the exceedingly well-defined power resident 
