CUCKOOS. 225 



386a. C. m. maynardi (Ridgio.). M A YNARD'S CUCKOO. Similar to 

 the preceding, but with a slightly smaller bill and much paler under parts, 

 the throat and breast being grayish white, very faintly washed with oohra- 

 ceous, which becomes stronger on the belly. B. from N., '75. 



Hinge. Bahamas and Florida Keys. 



This bird is a regular summer resident in the Florida Keys and 

 probably adjoining Atlantic mainland (see Scott, Auk, vi, 1889, p. 250). 



387. Coccyzus americanus (Linn.}. YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO. 

 (See Fig. 36.) Ad. Upper parts brownish gray vith slight greenish gloss ; 

 most of the wing-feathers rufous, except at the tip ; outer tail-feathers Hack, 

 conspicuously tipped 

 with white, which ex- 

 tends down the outer 

 vane of the outer 

 feather; under parts 

 dull whitish ; bill FlG . 73. -Tail-feathers of Yellow-billed Cuckoo, 

 black, the lower man- 

 dible yellow, except at the tip. L., 12-20 ; W., 5'70 ; T., 6'20 ; B. from N., '76. 



Remarks. This species bears a general resemblance to the Black-billed 

 Cuckoo, but may always be known from that species by its yellow lower 

 mandible, rufous wing- feathers, and black, white-tipped tail-feathers. 



Range. North America ; breeds from Florida to New Brunswick, and 

 winters in Central and South America. 



Washington, common S. K., May 2 to Oct. 15. Sing Sing, common S. E., 

 May 4 to Oct. 31. Cambridge, common S. R., May 12 to Aug. 



Nest, a platform of small sticks, with a few grasses or catkins, generally in 

 low trees or vine-covered bushes, four to ten feet from the ground. Eggs^ 

 three to five, pale greenish blue, 1 -22 x -92. 



A long, slim, dovelike bird slips noiselessly by and disappears in 

 the depths of a neighboring tree. If you can mark his position you 

 will find him perched motionless, and apparently slightly dazed. After 

 a moment he recovers and begins to hop about the tree in an active 

 search for his favorite fare of caterpillars. He is especially fond of 

 the kind which make nests in trees, commonly known as " tent cater- 

 pillars," and if you examine the conspicuous homes of these pests you 

 will frequently find them punctured with many holes made by the 

 Cuckoo's bill. A Cuckoo I shot at six o'clock one September morning 

 had the partially digested remains of forty-three of these caterpillars 

 in his stomach. 



The notes of the Cuckoo are strikingly characteristic, and while 

 subject to much variation may be fairly represented by the syllables 

 tut-tut, tut-tut, tut-tut, tut-tut, cl-uck-d-uck-cl-uck, cl-uck-cl-uck, cl-uck, 

 cow, cow, cow, cow, coiv, cow. It is not usual, however, to hear the 

 whole song given at once. 

 16 



