

OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. .11:5 



with about twenty species. Plumage, subdued in color ; 

 head not crested : tibiul feathers, hawk-like in character. 

 Sexes similar, from which the young scarcely differ. Nev- 

 er parasitic. From the loud jerky notes which these birds 

 are heard to utter during rainy weather, they are popularly 

 designated k> rain crows." 



Coccygus erythrophthalmus, Bonap. 



The Black-billed Cuckoo is less abundantly distributed 

 than its more common relative to be shortly described, but 

 is generally to be found in similar localities. It ranges as 

 far west as the great plains of the Missouri. Dr. Wood- 

 house found it very scarce in Texas and in the Indian Territo- 

 ry. De la Sagra and others have met it during the winter 

 months in Cuba. Mr. Audubon, in his extensive travels, 

 seldom observed it in Louisiana, and never in any of our 

 Western States, excepting Ohio. Nuttall considered it fully 

 as abundant as Americanus^ and affirms that it is found in 

 the tropical regions, of St. Domingo and Guiana. Dr. 

 Gerhardt discovered it breeding in Northwestern Georgia. 

 It has never been obtained bv any of our Western expedi- 

 tions to the Pacific, beyond the Indian Territory. Its breed- 

 ing limits seem to extend from Georgia to Canada in the 

 east, and from Texas to Minnesota in the west, with all the 

 intermediate country. 



In Eastern Pennsylvania, this species is bv no means com- 

 mon. It reaches our latitude during the early part of May, 

 occasionally on the last of April when the season is not back- 

 ward. It is a less retired species than its nearest congener, 

 and manifests a strong predilection for the borders of thick- 

 ets, in which it delights to breed. 



The flight of this species is in undulations, never high, 

 but comparatively light, and moderately protracted. 



Its note is very peculiar and characteristic, resembling 

 very closely that of AtHcricamis, and when once heard, is 

 seldom forgotten. It is an uncouth guttural, and is seldom 

 15 



