YELLOW-BILLED AMERICAN CUCKOO. 



" That its own nest is simple, flat, composed of a few dry 

 sticks and grass, formed much like that of the common 

 Dove ; the eggs are four or five in number, of a uniform 

 spotless greenish blue colour," one inch two lines in length 

 by eight lines in breadth. 



Wilson says that, " while the female is sitting, the male 

 is generally not far distant, and gives the alarm, by his 

 notes, when any person is approaching. The female sits 

 so close that you may almost reach her with your hand, 

 and then precipitates herself to the ground, feigning lame- 

 ness, to draw you away from the spot, fluttering, trailing 

 her wings, and tumbling over, in the manner of the Part- 

 ridge, Woodcock, and many other species. Both parents 

 unite in providing food for the young. This consists, for 

 the most part, of caterpillars, particularly such as infest 

 apple trees. The same sort of insects constitute the chief 

 part of their own sustenance. They are accused, and with 

 some justice, of sucking the eggs of other birds, like the 

 Crow, the Blue Jay, and other pillagers. They also occa- 

 sionally eat various kinds of berries. But from the cir- 

 cumstance of destroying such numbers of very noxious 

 larvae, they prove themselves the friends of the farmer, 

 and are highly deserving of his protection." 



As every newly-ascertained fact in the reproduction of 

 the species among the Cuckoos is a matter of interest, I 

 here append some additions by Mr. Audubon, inserted in 

 his fifth volume. 



" Whilst at Charlestown, in South Carolina, in the early 

 part of June, 1837, I was invited by J. S. Rhett, Esq., 

 residing in the suburbs of that city, to visit his grounds 

 for the purpose of viewing the nest of the Yellow-billed 

 Cuckoo. This I did in company with my friend Dr. S. 

 Wilson, and we found ourselves highly gratified, as we 

 were enabled to make the following observations : 



p 2 



