162 Bayliss, The Yellow-billed Cuckoo. [ April 



ones, on the body. A camera was strapped to the trunk of the 

 tree and a photograph taken which shows the white "hairs" of 

 the one. 



The birds were certainly one day old and may have hatched on 

 July 30. When jarred, they made a faint hissing or buzzing like 

 that of a bee. Thinking the little white-haired birdling might be 

 crowded off the frail platform, I took one of the larger birds home 

 with me; and of that I shall speak later. 



Toward evening Aug. 4, they were still there though the white- 

 haired one was crowded to the edge of the nest with the big one 

 lying partly upon him. At sundown Aug. 6, only the black-haired 

 one was there, no trace of the other being discernible. 



The remaining one was now larger and farther developed than 

 his mate in my home and by this time had a few white quills on his 

 back. He moved about uneasily and seemed to have his eyes 

 open, but of that I could not be sure, looking through the mirror. 

 He pushed himself to the edge and voided excreta upon the weeds 

 below the tree where, contrary to the observations of Jean Stratton 

 Porter, there were seven or eight droppings. 



On the evening of Aug. 8 the nest was empty. The old bird 

 was near, but manifested less rather than more of her customary 

 anxiety, if so calm and dignified a bird can be said ever to exhibit 

 anxiety. She called no more than usual and gradually worked 

 her way farther from the tree instead of remaining near to watch 

 my movements. It scarcely seemed probable that the young one 

 could have been able to leave the nest even if, after the way of his 

 species, his feathers had burst into bloom all in one day. He was 

 eight and a half, and may have been nine and a half days old, and 

 it is barely possible that he may have departed without protest 

 and without tragedy. Among the sticks of the shallow platform 

 which had served him for a cradle were bits of the shell that had 

 encased him, now faded almost to robin's-egg blue. The voice of 

 the parent was heard in the vicinity for three or four weeks longer. 



The bird I took home to study was as ugly a specimen as could 

 well be; black from tip to toe except the dark wine-colored under 

 mandible and edges of the upper one; big bodied; stupid in the 

 morning and voracious in the afternoon; voiding instantly after 

 swallowing; making that faint hissing and a little quirt, quirt; 



