346 Proceedings of Indiana Academy of Ncience, 
93. -NYCTEA NYCTEA (Linnzeus). SNOWY OWL. (3876) 
The only certain record I have of the cccurrence of this magnificent owl 
in Vigo County is that of an adult male captured November 20, 1889, by Mr. 
Elijah Liston, 24%4 miles southeast of Pimento, or about 14 miles south of 
Terre Haute. Liston saw it alight upon a strawstack. Firing at it with 
a small Flobert gun, the tip of one wing was broken, which enabled Mr. 
Liston to capture it. The owl died December 9, and was brought to us. It 
is very white and is. withal, a very fine specimen. 
While this is the only example of this species known to me from Vigo 
County, in the winter of 1887-8 as many as eight were taken in Indiana, all 
before Holidays. About the same time this specimen was taken in Vigo 
County, we received in the flesh, two other fine examples,—one from Prof. 
M. MeFarland, Olivet, Michigan, December 2, and one from Vermilion, 
South Dakota, whence it was sent us by Dr. 8. G. Agersborg, January 5, 
1890. I have a report of the capture of one near Camden in the winter of 
1865. 
94. CoccyZUS AMERICANUS AMERICANUS (Linneus). 
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO. (387) 
A common summer resident ; usually more numerous than the Black-billed 
species. 
The euckoos are among the most strange and interesting of our birds. 
They are very quiet, noiseless and ghost-like in their movements. One may 
remain for an hour or more in an apple-tree over your head without attract- 
ing your attention, although it may be moving about all the time from limb 
to limb, gleaning caterpillars of which they are very fond. You learn of its 
presence only when it flies to another tree. and you see it only then if you 
happen to be looking in the direction of its flight, for it is as noiseless in its 
flight as it is while feeding. 
With us, its favorite nesting sites are on horizontal limbs of old apple 
trees. The nest is a poorly constructed affair, suggesting that the time may 
come, in the evolution of the species, when our cuckoos will abandon the 
building of any nest whatever and degenerate to the level of their European 
cousins, which drop their eggs in the nests of other birds. 
30th of our species of cuckoos are generally and usually called Rain Crow 
in Indiana. This has some justification in the fact that their doleful song, 
if it may be called a song, is most often heard on quiet days in summer and 
early fall when clouds are forming and rain is imminent. Besides this 
note which presages rain, they have another note or call which plainly 
suggests the noise made by water pouring from a jug. 
Carroll County: May 11, 1878. one taken at Camden; June 30, 1885, full 
set of fresh eggs; seen at many other times. 
Monroe County: May 5, 1886, noted. Vigo County: May 18, 1888, noted. 
95. CoccyZUS ERYTHROPTITALMUS (Wilson). BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO. (388) 
A common summer resident. Up to about 1884, this species appeared to be 
less common than the Yellow-billed Cuckoo, but since then it seems to have 
become relatively as common. 
