[330] BIRDS OF OREGON 



The parents, at first rather uneasy, soon lost their fears and attended to the wants of their 

 young. They were constantly going back and forth bringing crickets, and judging from the 

 number disposed of in the three hours I noticed them, the amount required in a day must 

 be enormous. 



Streator (Biological Survey field notes) stated that he noted them every 

 day between June 2.5 and July 3, 1896, at Plush, and Peck (i9iia) noted 

 it on Willow Creek, Malheur County, on July 6, 1910. 



The eggs are laid on flimsy platforms of twigs, usually within a few 

 feet of the ground. Occupied nests have been recorded from June i to 

 August 2.. The November nesting recorded by Prill is abnormal. The 

 young, decorated with an abundance of blackish-purple quills, are re- 

 pulsive looking until the sheaths burst. Then, within a few hours, the 

 slim babies are transformed into elegant creatures clad in waistcoats of 

 white satin and coats of brown satin. 



The weird call notes of the California Cuckoo, or "rain crow," are 

 most often heard in June and early July in the thickly wooded stream 

 bottoms. There the bird conceals his slim, satiny elegance of plumage 

 while giving voice to the peculiar chant directed to the rain gods. Al- 

 though the effort is commendable in that the cuckoo is reputedly doing 

 his earnest best to bring showers during the dry months, more and better 

 results would be obtained by scheduling the performance either earlier 

 or later in the season. 



