NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



185 



Their nests are made of twigs, lined with shreds of grape vine bark or catkins; 

 the nests are generally very shabbily made and so flat on the top that the eggs 

 frequently roll off. They are located near the ground in bushes or low trees. 

 The three or four eggs are deposited at intervals of several days, and frequently 

 young birds and eggs are found in the nest at the same time. Like the Flicker, 

 this bird will frequently continue laying if one egg is removed at a time, and as 

 many as twelve have been taken from the same nest, by this means. The eggs 

 are light greenish blue. Size 1.20 x .90. They are usually laid during May or 

 June. 



38 7a. California Cuckoo. Coccyzus americanus occidentalis. 

 Range. Western North America, from British Columbia, southward. 

 Slightly larger and with a stouter bill than the last. Eggs not distinguishable. 



388. Black-billed Cuckoo. Coccyzus erythrophthalmus. 



Range. United States east of the Rocky Mountains; north to Labrador and 

 Manitoba; south in winter to Central and South America. 



This species is rather more common in the northern 

 parts of the United States than the Yellow-billed variety. 

 The bird is smaller, has a black bill, and the tail is the 

 same color as the back and only slightly tipped with 

 white. Their nests are built in similar locations and of 

 the same materials as used by the Yellow-bill; the three 

 or four eggs are smaller and a darker shade of greenish 

 blue. Size 1.15 x .85. All the Cuckoos are close sitters 

 and will not leave the nest until nearly reached with the 

 hand, when they will slowly flutter off through the un- 



I Greenish blue.] 



derbrush, and continue to utter their mournful 

 repeated. 



Kuk-kuk-kuk," many times 



[388.1.] Kamchatkan Cuckoo. Cuculus canorus telephonus. 



An Asiatic subspecies of the common European Cuckoo, accidentally occur- 

 ing in Alaska. 



TROGONS. Family TROGONID/E. 



389. Coppery-tailed Trogon. Trogon ambiguus. 



Range. Southern Mexico, fnorth to the Lower Rio Grande in Texas and in 

 southern Arizona, in both of which localities they probably breed. 



This is the only member of this family of beautiful 

 birds which reaches our borders. This species is 12 

 inches in length, and is a metallic green color on the 

 upper parts and breast, and with coppery reflections of 

 the middle tail feathers, the outer ones being white, very 

 finely vermiculated with black, as are the wing coverts. 

 The underparts, except for a white band across the 

 breast, are rosy red. This species nest in cavities in 

 large trees, generally in large, deserted Woodpecker 

 holes. They are also said to have been found nesting 



in 



[Dull white.] 

 holes in banks. 



Their eggs are three or four in number and are a dull 



white in color. Size 1.10 x .85. Data. Tampico, Mexico, April 21, 1900. 4 

 eggs at the bottom of a hole in limb of a large elm. Collector, F. B. Armstrong. 



