SPECIES 2. CUCULUS ERYTHROPHTHALMUS. 



BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO. 



[Plate XXVIII. Fig. 2.] 



PE ALE'S Museum , JVo. 1854. 



THIS Cuckoo is nearly as numerous as the former; but has 

 hitherto escaped the notice of European naturalists; or from its 

 general resemblance has been confounded with the preceding. 

 Its particular markings, however, and some of its habits, suffi- 

 ciently characterize it as a distinct species. Its general colour 

 above is nearly that of the former, inclining more to a pale ash 

 on the cheeks and front; it is about an inch less in length; the 

 tail is of a uniform dark silky drab, except at the tip, where 

 each feather is marked with a spot of white, bordered above 

 with a slight touch of dull black; the bill is wholly black, and 

 much smaller than that of the preceding; and it wants the bright 

 cinnamon on the wings. But what constitutes its most distin- 

 guishing trait is a bare wrinkled skin, of a deep red colour, that 

 surrounds the eye. The female differs little in external appear- 

 ance from the male. 



The Black-billed Cuckoo is particularly fond of the sides of 

 creeks, feeding on small shell-fish, snails, &c. I have also often 

 found broken pieces of oyster-shells in its gizzard, which, like 

 that of the other, is covered with fine downy hair. 



The nest of this bird is most commonly built in a cedar, much 

 in the same manner, and of nearly the same materials, as that of 

 the other; but the eggs are smaller, usually four or five in num- 

 ber, and of a rather deeper greenish blue. 



This bird is likewise found in the state of Georgia, and has 

 not escaped the notice of Mr. Abbot, who is satisfied of its be- 

 ing a distinct species from the preceding. 



END OP VOL. i. 



