BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO. 



COCCYGUS ERYTHROPHTHALMUS. 



IT is the black-billed cuckoo whose song, with very lit- 

 tle merit, has become famous. It must be the low 

 pitch, the solemn manner of delivery, and the quality of 

 tone that have attracted the attention of the writers ; for 

 there is little variety in the rhythm and the least possible 

 in the melody. The rather doleful, straightforward rep- 

 etition of the singer's name is not heard every day ; the 

 cuckoo, too, has his moods. 



I have heard this bird nearly every summer of my life, 

 and never any departure from the old, monotonous strain 

 until recently (1888.) Early one June morning, sultry 

 and warm, a bird was exercising his voice in a manner 



