YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO. 391 



Belg. xxxix. p. 9), and the other near Turin in October 1883 (E. Cavendish 

 Taylor, 'Ibis/ 1884, p. 115). 



The Yellow-billed Cuckoo has a very extensive range on the American 

 continent, breeding as far north as New Brunswick and Minnesota, and 

 as far south as the West Indies. Its lateral range is equally extensive, 

 reaching from the Atlantic to the Pacific. In winter it is found, m Central 

 America and the northern portions of South America, probably as far 

 south as Buenos Ayres. An example was shot in Greenland in 1874. 



The Yellow-billed Cuckoo is as well known in North America as the 

 Common Cuckoo is in England, and its appearance in spring is looked 

 forward to and welcomed in a similar manner. It frequents orchards, 

 woods and groves, and dense timbered swamps, where it seeks the most 

 secluded places amongst the foliage ; for, like our Cuckoo, it is a somewhat 

 shy and solitary bird, though I have seen it in the Central Park in New 

 York. It arrives in the Northern States about the third week in April, 

 but in the Southern States it already has eggs at that date. It leaves 

 Pennsylvania about the middle of September for its winter- quarters. The 

 males are said to arrive first, as is the case with many other migratory 

 birds, and are followed by the females a little later. Writing of the note 

 of this species, Wilson remarks : " A stranger who visits the United 

 States for the purpose of examining their natural productions, and passes 

 through our woods in the month of May or June, will sometimes hear, as 

 he traverses the borders of deep, retired, high-timbered hollows, an uncouth 

 guttural sound or note, resembling the syllables kowe, kowe, kowe, kowe, 

 koive \ beginning slowly, but ending so rapidly, that the notes seem to run 

 into each other, and vice versa ; he will hear this frequently without being 

 able to discover the bird or animal from which it proceeds, as it is both 

 shy and solitary, seeking always the thickest foliage for concealment. 

 This is the Yellow-billed Cuckoo, the subject of the present account. 

 From the imitative sound of its note it is known in many parts by the name 

 of the Cow-bird ; it is also called in Virginia the Rain-Crow, being observed 

 to be most clamorous immediately before rain/' 



Nuttall says that the Yellow-billed Cuckoo often calls during the night ; 

 and in the daytime his voice is incessantly heard near his nest, where, as a 

 sentinel, he watches over the sacred spot and guards it from all intruders. 

 Dr. Coues writes : " It is a rather shy and unfamiliar species, inhabiting 

 high, open woods, as well as the large shade-trees of parks and cities, and 

 generally remains high among the branches. When dashing about in 

 active pursuit of the various large-winged insects that form its chief food, 

 they are conspicuous objects, the metallic olive-grey flashing in the sun, 

 and the snowy underparts contrasting with verdure. But ordinarily they 

 are hidden birds, oftener heard than seen ; they pass from one tree to 

 another stealthily, with a rapid, gliding, noiseless flight, and often rest 



