CUCKOOS. 225 



386a* C. m* vasLyTiSir6i (Kidgtv.). Maynard's Cuckoo.— Similar to 

 the preceding, but with a slightly smaller bill and much paler under parts, 

 the throat and breast being grayish white, very faintly washed with ochra- 

 ceous, which becomes stronger on the belly. B. from N., '75. 



Range. — Bahamas and Florida Keys. 



This bird is a regular summer resident in the Florida Keys and 

 probably adjoining Atlantic mainland (see Scott, Auk, vi, 1889, p. 250). 



387* Coccyzus a;inerica>nus {Linn.). Yellow-billei> Cuckoo. 



(See Fig. 3G.) Ad. — Upper parts brownish gray A'itli slight greenish gloss; 

 most of the wing-feathers rufous, except at the tip ; outer tail-feathers hlacJc^ 

 conspicuously tipped 

 with white, which ex- 

 tends down the outer 

 vane of the outer 

 feather; under parts 



dull whitish; bill Fig. 73.— Tail-feathers of Yellow-billed Cuckoo, 



black, the lower man- 

 dible yellow, except at the tip. L., 12-20 ; W., 5-70 ; T., 6-20 ; B. from N., -76. 



Remarks. — This species bears a general resemblance to the Black-billed 

 Cuckoo, but may always be known from that species by its yellow lower 

 mandible, rufous wing-feathers, and black, white-tipped tail-feathers. 



Range. — North America; breeds from Florida to New Brunswick, and 

 winters in Central and South America. 



Washington, common S. R., May 2 to Oct. 15. Sing Sing, common S. R., 

 May 4 to Oct. 31. Cambridge, common S. R., May 12 to Aug. 



Nest., a platform of small sticks, with a few^ grasses or catkins, generally in 

 low trees or vine-covered bushes, four to ten feet from the ground. Eggs., 

 three to five, pale greenish blue, 1*22 x -92. 



A long, slim, dovelike bird slips noiselessly by and disappears in 

 the depths of a neighboring tree. If you can mark his position you 

 will find him perched motionless, and apparently slightly dazed. After 

 a moment he recovers and begins to hop about the tree in an active 

 search for his favorite fare of caterpillars. He is especially fond of 

 the kind vt^hieh make nests in trees, commonly known as " tent cater- 

 pillars," and if you examine the conspicuous homes of these pests you 

 will frequently find them punctured with many holes made by the 

 Cuckoo's bill. A Cuckoo I shot at six o'clock one September morning 

 had the partially digested remains of forty-three of these caterpillars 

 in his stomach. 



The notes of the Cuckoo are strikingly characteristic, and while 

 subject to much variation may be fairly represented by the syllables 

 tut-tut, tut-tut, tut-tut, tut-tut, cl-uck-cl-uck-cl-uck, cl-uck-cl-uck, cl-uck, 

 cow, cow, cow, cow, cow, cow. It is not usual, however, to hear the 

 whole song given at once. 

 16 



