318 HISTORY OF THE 



gether so loosely that the eggs were often visible from the ground 

 beneath. The twigs of the cypress seemed to be preferred to 

 those of any other kind of tree. The height at which the nests 

 were placed varied from five or six feet to twenty or thirty feet. 

 Mr. Long described the eggs as being of a greenish white color, 

 unspotted. He did riot remember the maximum number which 

 he had found in one set, but thought it was at least four or five. 

 He has often taken young birds from the nest, to rear or give 

 to his friends. He knew of a small colony breeding in Wau- 

 kulla swamp, about twenty miles from Tallahassee, in the sum- 

 mer of 1885, and believes that they still occur there in moderate 

 numbers. 



"It seems difficult to reconcile such testimony with the state- 

 ments of Audubon, Wilson and others, that the Carolina Par- 

 oquet lays its eggs in hollow trees. It may be, however, that, 

 like the Crow Blackbird and some of the Owls, this Parrot 

 nests both in holes and on branches, according to the circum- 

 stances; at all events, the above account has seemed to me to 

 rest on evidence sufficiently good to warrant its publication." 



ORDER COCCYGES. 



CUCKOOS, ETC. 



BUI variable in form, but never chisel shaped at tip, the culroen usually more 

 or less curved; tongue not extensible nor barbed at tip; feet zygodactyle, or 

 else the middle or outer toes connected for at least half their length. (Ridgway.) 



SUBORDER CUCULI. CUCKOOS, ETC. 



Toes, two before, two behind. Bill as long as head, compressed, with cut- 

 ting edges smooth; nostrils exposed; no distinct rictal bristles; tarsus nearly or 

 quite as long as longest anterior toe (sometimes longer), naked for greater part 

 of its length; anterior toes separated to extreme base; plumage without bright 

 or metallic colors. (Ridgway.) 



FAMILY CIICULID^l. CUCKOOS, ANIS, ETC. 



" Bill compressed, usually more or less lengthened, and with decurved cul- 

 men. Rictal bristles few or none. Nostrils exposed; no nasal tufts. Tail long 

 aud soft, of eight to twelve feathers; Toes in pairs, deeply cleft or not united, 



