CHAPTER XXII 

 ORDER OF CUCKOOS AND KINGFISHERS 



COCCYGES 



THIS Order (pronounced Coc'si-jez) represents an effort 

 to find a place for three familiar Families of birds whose 

 members have something in common, yet in their most notice- 

 able features are widely different. Both in their structure, 

 habits and mode of life, the kingfisher and cuckoo are widely 

 different from each other; and if there is one really good 

 reason why these birds should be placed in the same Order, 

 the writer would be pleased to have it pointed out. Their 

 feet are totally different, and so are their beaks, their tails and 

 their plumage. Any future revision of the classification of 

 birds should strike this Order, early and hard. 



THE CUCKOO FAMILY 



Cuculidae 



The Yellow-Billed Cuckoo, 1 or "Rain-Crow," will 

 fitly represent the Cuckoo Family. It looks like an insect- 

 eating perching bird, and in reality it is one! You can easily 

 recognize it by its extreme length and slenderness, the fan- 

 like shape of its tail when spread, its upper surface of glossy 



1 Coc-cy'zus americanus. Length, about 12 inches. 



22 



