CUCKOO, BLACK-BILLED 



The cuckoos are among the first birds on Mr. Forbush's 

 list of those that eat the caterpillars of the gypsy moth. 

 .... Of the Black-billed 's stomachs examined by the 

 Biological Survey, sixteen contained three hundred and 

 twenty-eight caterpillars, and in addition fifteen grass- 

 hoppers and some spiders. 



FLORENCE A. MERRIAM. Birds of Village and Field. 1 



Strange, reserved, unsocial bird, 

 Flitting, peering 'mid the leaves, 



Thy lonely call a twofold word 



Repeated like a soul that grieves, 

 "Kou-kou," "Kou-kou," a solemn plaint 

 Now loud and full, now far and faint. 



"Kou-kou," "Kou-kou," repeated oft, 

 Like one who half recalls the chimes 



Of " Cuckoo/' "Cuckoo," in wood and croft 

 Across the seas in Wordsworth's times. 

 " Kou-kou, " " Kou-kou, " a cheerless strain 

 That to country folk forebodeth rain. 



BURROUGHS. 



CUCKOO, YELLOW-BILLED 



Cuckoos have two toes directed forward and two back- 

 ward, but the cause or use of this character it is difficult 



to understand Cuckoos are mysterious birds 



well worth watching. I would not imply that their deeds 

 are evil; on the contrary, they are exceedingly beneficial 



63 



