368 SCANSORES. 



include the genuine Cuckoos, having the bill broader at the base 

 than it is high. These, with the exception of the birds included 

 in the genus Molothrus, are the only known parasitic birds, 

 making no nests for their own use, but taking possession of those 

 of small insectivorous birds, usually of the Dentirostral tribe. 

 "The whole care of hatching ancf rearing the young, is now left 

 to the foster parent; and as the wants of so large an intruder, 

 additional to those of their own offspring, would be more than the 

 efforts of the selected nurses could supply, an instinct is im- 

 planted in the young Cuckoo, by which, even from the very day 

 of its birth, it is impelled to eject from the nest the rightful ten- 

 ants of it. This is a well known habit of the Common Cuckoo, 

 whose notes as harbinger of spring, are pleasing, but whose 

 reputation is bad, on account of the ruthless murders which, in 

 its early days, it is supposed to have committed." The Toucans, 

 however, seem to act as avengers. The favorite nests of the 

 Cuckoo, are those of the Hedge Sparrow, the Pied Wagtail, the 

 Pipit and the Robin. 



(2.) The sub-family, Coccyzina, from the generic name, 

 Coccyzus, (Gr. kokkuzo, I sing as a cuckoo,) have a bill of a 

 lengthened and oval shape, and are not to be regarded as paras- 

 tic. Coccyzus Americanus, (Cuculus Garolinensis Wilson,) 

 is well known by its notes, which seem to represent the word 

 cow, cow, repeated eight or ten times with increasing rapidity. 

 This is the Yellow-billed Cuckoo, which honorably builds its own 

 nest, and lays four or five eggs of a green color. Sometimes it 

 is called the Cow-bird. There are two other American species, 

 viz., the BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, C. erythrophthalmus, (Gr. red- 

 eyed,) and Mangrove Cuckoo, C. seniculus, (Lat. a little old man.) 



What is the THIRD ORDER OF BIRDS ? What characteristic is common to 

 them all ? For what does this fit them ? What is said of their powers of 

 flight and their nests ? Into what Families is the order divided ? 



What is the FIRST FAMILY ? Of what region are they all natives ? What 

 is said of their plumage ? How do they associate ? How are they easily 

 recognized ? Describe the beak. What other characteristics are given ? 

 What is said of their flight ? What of their powers of smell ? What food 

 do they use ? What assists them in obtaining it ? What more is said of 

 these birds when sleeping ? How does Mr. Gould arrange the Toucan ? 

 State the differences between the two groups? Which is the largest of the 

 Toucans Proper? What species of the Aracari is mentioned? What other 

 species of Toucans is mentioned ? 



What is the SECOND FAMILY ? For what are the Parrots remarkable ? 

 What is peculiar in their upper mandible ? Describe it. Has the beak 

 nerves of sensation ? What is said of the tongue ? What peculiarity 



