478 XURTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



seems to chaiacterize the more southern and Jamaica specimens, which also 

 are smaller; nurtlieru specimens, however, show similar variations. In the 

 immature birds the under surface of the tail-feathers is j,nay, not black, so 

 that the contrast with the white tips is very indistinct, as in en/throfhfJud- 

 mus, in which, however, these light tips are much narrower, while the bill is 

 entirely l»lack. 



Specimens of tliis bird from re«j;ions west of tlie Missouri, and especially 

 one from C'antonment Burgwyn, Xew Mexico, are appreciably lari^er than 

 eastern, with decidedly lonj^er bill. One brought from Mazatlan by Mr. 

 Xantus is undistinguishable from the long-billed western variety. 



Habit.s. Tlie Yellow-billed Cuckoo is distributed throughout Xorth 

 America from Canada to Florida, and from the Atlantic coast to Cali- 

 fornia. It has been met with in all the principal West India Islands. 

 I have received specimens of its eggs and nest from Southwestern Texas. 

 Audubon mentions finding this bird higli up on the Mississippi Kiver, on 

 the uj^i)er branches of the Arkansas, and in Upper Canada, as well as in 

 every State between these limits. Mr. Xewton found it breeding in the isl- 

 and of St. Croix, Mr. Gosse mentions it as a bird of Jamaica, and Lembeye 

 gives it among those of Cuba, and Mr. Salvin found it in Central America. 

 It is known to breed from the West Indies and Florida to Minnesota, and 

 from Xew IJrunswick to Texas. It does not appear to have been met with 

 in any of the government expeditions, except by Dr. Woodhouse, who si)eaks 

 of it as very common in tlie Indian Territory, Texas, and Xew Mexico. 



This species was seen on one occasion, and heard at other times, near Sac- 

 ramento City, Cal., by Mr. Kidgway, in June, 1807. It was there rare, or at 

 least not common, and found principally in the willow-thickets. It was 

 again met with in July, of the same year, along the Truckee liiver, in Xe- 

 vada, where, also, it appeared to be very rare. 



AVilson traced it as far north as Lake Ontario, and speaks of finding it 

 numerous in the Chickasaw and Choctaw nations, and as breeding in the 

 upi^er part of Georgia. He seems to have observed very carefully its habits, 

 and to have enjoyed favorable opportunities for his observations. His ac- 

 count of their nesting is interesting. He states that, in marked contrast to 

 the singularly unparental conduct of their European relatives, the Aniericau 

 Cuckoos l>uild their own nest, hatch tlieir own eggs, and rear their own 

 young, and that in conjugal and parental affection they seem to be sur[)a.ssed 

 by no other birds. He adds that they 1)egin to pair early in May, and com- 

 mence Imilding about the 10th of that month. 'He describes their nest as 

 usually fixed among the liorizontal branches of an ajijJe-lree ; sometimes in 

 a solitary thorn, crab, or cedar, in some retired part of the woods. It is con- 

 structed with little art, and scarcely any concavity, of small sticks and 

 twigs, intermixed with green weeds and blossoms of the maple. On this 

 almost flat bed the eggs, usually three or four in numl^er, are placed; these 

 are of a uniform greenisli-blue color, and of a size proportionate to that of 



