FIELD KEY TO THE LAND BIRDS. Ney 
CUCKOOS. 
OCuculidae. 
Bini. — Medium-sized and bent. 
FEET. — Small; two toes in front 
and two behind; nails 
small. 
Foop. — Caterpillars and other in- 
sects. 
28. YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO. Coccyzus 
americanus. — Length, 12 inches. Grayish brown 
above; underparts grayish white; bill yellow. This 
is a tree bird, rarely seen on the ground. He flies 
quietly from tree to tree all day long, searching for 
caterpillars. Commoner West. 
29. BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO.  Coccyzus 
erythrophthalmus. — Length, 12 inches. Similar to 
the Yellow-bill, except that the bill is black, the white 
spots on the tail smaller, and that there is a bare red 
spot around the eye. This bird is also called the 
Rain Cuckoo, as his calls are particularly loud and 
frequent just before a rain. A summer bird, com- 
moner East. 
