240 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



times known to slip an egg into each other's nests or into that of a 

 different species. The nest they build is of the most temporary 

 description, and the eggs are deposited in such a desultory manner 

 that it is no uncommon occurrence to find fresh eggs and young birds 

 therein at the same time. 



Of the two Cuckoos we have in Ontario, the Yellow-billed seems 

 the more southern, apparently finding its northern limit along our 

 southern border, where it is rather scarce and not generally dis- 

 tributed. 



This species seems partial to orchards and cultivated grounds 

 along the banks of rivers. It is very common about Niagara Falls, 

 though not regularly distributed throughout the country. Last 

 summer a pair had their nest and reared their young within fifty feet 

 of my residence. They were very quiet and retiring, were seldom 

 seen near the nest except while sitting on it, and only occasionally 

 did we hear the emphatic kow-kow-kon' which reminded us of their 

 presence. 



The nest was a flimsy affair, placed near the outer end of a 

 horizontal branch of a maple, about eight feet from the ground. As 

 -soon as the young were able to fly, young and old disappeared, and 

 were not again seen during the season. 



Southern Ontario seems to be the northern limit of this species^ 

 It occurs at London, Hamilton, Toronto, but at Ottawa Mr. White 

 has only found it once. To the north of Ottawa I have not heard of 

 it being observed. 



COCCYZUS ERYTHROPHTHALMUS (WiLs.). 

 169. Black-billed Cuckoo. (388) 



Above, uniform satiny olive-gray, or "quaker color," with bronzy reflec- 

 tions ; below, pure white, sometimes with a faint tawny tinge on the fore parts ; 

 wings, with little or no rufous ; lateral feathers not contrasting with the 

 central, their tips for a short distance blackish, then obscurely white ; bill, 

 blackish, except occasionally a trace of yellowish below ; eye-lids, red ; bare 

 circum-ocular space, purplish. Length, 11-12; wing, 5-5i ; tail, 6-6i ; bill, 

 under 1. 



HAB. Eastern. North America, from Labrador and Manitoba south to the 

 West Indies and the valley of the Amazon ; west to the Rocky Mountains. 

 Accidental in the British Islands and Italy. 



Nest, loosely constructed of twigs, grass, strips of bark, leaves, etc., placed 

 jn a bush. 



Eggs, two to five, light greenish-blue. 



