136 
In regard to their parental duties, our birds show considerable more reali- 
zation of responsibility than the European. They are slightly parasitic 
in their habits, that is, they occasionally drop their eggs in the nests of 
other birds and shelve upon them the cares of raising their young, but the 
practice is not common. The old English word ‘‘Cuckold” refers to and 
is based upon this habit of the European bird. This is not a common 
practice with the American, as it is with the Old World species, and is 
perhaps only accidental. 
Economic Status. Cuckoos are almost entirely insectivorous, but 
occasionally take small amounts of wild fruit. Their great value lies in 
the fact that they show special fondness for certain insects that other 
species rarely touch. Hairy caterpillars which, on account of their bristly 
coatings, are safe from most fastidious birds are regularly eaten by Cuckoos. 
The interior of a Cuckoo’s stomach will be found to be lined with a coating 
of spiny caterpillar bristles set in the walls and projecting from them 
like fur. 
387. Yellow-billed Cuckoo. FR.—LE coucoU A BEC JAUNE. Coccyzus americanus. 
L, 12-20. Plate XVII A. 
Distinctions. The Yellow-billed Cuckoo may be mistaken only for its relative the 
Black-billed. The yellow on the bill, from which it gets its name, is the easiest means of 
identification. Additional distinguishing marks are a broad area of suffused cinnamon on 
the wines, that is conspicuous in flight, and considerably more white on the ends of the tail 
feathers. 
Field Marks. The long flexible outline in flight and the general coloration make this 
bird recognizable as a Cuckoo. The yellow lower mandible, cinnamon wing marks, and 
the large amount of white on the tail fix the species. 
Nesting. Loose structure of sticks not far from ground. 
Distribution. This species is of rather more southern distribution than the next, 
but the data seem to point to its increase in numbers and range within the past thirty 
sepals Its range just overlaps the southern borders of Ontario, Quebec, and New Bruns- 
wick. 
SUBSPECIES. There are two races of this species recognized in Canada. The 
Eastern Cuckoo, the typical form, extends west to the plains. 
388. Black-billed Cuckoo. ¥FR.—LE coucot A BEC NOIRE. Coccyzus erythrophthal- 
mus. L, 11-85. Plate XVII A. 
Distinctions. Can be distinguished from the Yellow-billed by its all-black bill, lack 
of cinnamon on the wings, and the smaller amount of white tips on the tail. 
Field Marks. The above make the best field marks available for the species. The 
characteristic Cuckoo flight and outline are easily recognized. 
Nesting. Loose structure of sticks not far from ground. 
Distribution. A bird of wider and more northerly distribution than the yellow-hilled 
Cuckoo; irregularly in the more settled parts of the country south of the gulf of St. Lawrence 
and west to the Manitoba line. 
SUBORDER—ALCYONES. KINGFISHERS. 
The Kingfishers form a well-marked group represented in nearly all 
parts of the world. Though evidently adapted to catching fish some have 
given up their ancestral habits and watery habitats to live in the woods 
on insects and earthworms. However, all these departures from type are 
extralimital and mostly tropical; the well known Laughing Jackass of 
Australia is a large aberrant Kingfisher. The North American Kingfishers 
are all included under one family, Alcedinide. 
