42 Synopsis of the Birds 



above and beneath ; margins entire ; both mandibles curved 

 fx'om the base ; upper a little longer : nostrils basal, lateral, 

 oval, half closed by a naked membrane : tongue short, narrow, 

 acute. Feet slender ; tarsus naked, much longer than the 

 longest toe ; nails short, but little incurved. Wings short, 

 rounded ; spurious feather short; third, fourth and fifth pri- 

 maries longest. Tail moderate or elongated, rounded or 

 cuneiform, often f athers. 



Inhabit the warmest parts of both continents : none in 

 Europe : two in North America during summer. Replace 

 here Cuculus of the old continent, from which they differ, 

 especially in habits. Build a nest in hollow trees, and breed 

 up their young ; reside in dense forests ; seldom alight on the 

 ground ; feed on insects and berries. 



34. Coccyzus americanus, Nob. Greenish-drab, beneath white: 

 inner vanes of the primaries reddish-cinnamon ; lower man- 

 dible and eyelids yellow. 



Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Cuculus carolinensis, Wils.Am. Qrn. 



iv. p. 13- pi. -28. fig. 1. 



Cuculus americanus, L. Coccyzus pyropterus, Vieill. 



Inhabits common in the United States where it breeds : 

 winters in tropical America. 



35. Coccyzus erythrophthalmus, Nob. Greenish-drab, beneath 

 white ; no cinnamon colour on the wings ; bill entirely black ; 

 eyelids red, naked. 



Black-billed Cuckoo, Cuculus erythrophthalmus, Wils. Am. 

 Orn. iv. p. 16. pi. c 2S.fig. 2. 



Inhabits common in the United States where it breeds : 

 winters in tropical America. (7.) 



FAMILY V. SAGITTILINGUES. 



Sagittilingues, III. Macroglossi, Vieill. Beloglossi, Ranz. 



Proglossi, Latr. Second family of the Zygodactyli, Temm. 



Bill straight, seldom a little curved at tip, conic-elongated. 



