ZOOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT. 73 



175-'587-(429). Coccyzus americanus (Linn.}. * YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO. 



Formerly rather rare at this place, but now quite common; "less common in Mon- 

 roe County than the next species'' (Jerome Trombley); "common in Kalamazoo Co!" 

 (Dr. M. Gibbs); S. E. White reports this species very rare in Kent County; easily mis- 

 taken for the Black-billed Cuckoo; Dr. Atkins reported finding eggs of this species in 

 the nest of the Black-billed Cuckoo; "the time of incubation of eggs, in the same set, 

 very variable" (S. M. Falconer); breeds: I find both this and the next species nesting 

 commonly about the college grounds; nests in trees; eggs two to six, usually four; like 

 those of the next species only larger and a little lighter colored. We see that these 

 birds are some like the European Cuckoo in the habit of using each others nests, 

 which may account for the varying period of incubation. 



1 74-388-(428), Coccyzus erythrophtlialmus (Wils.}. * BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO. 



Formerly quite common at this place, but now rather rare; May to August; "very 

 common in Kent County" (S. E. White); " very common in Kalamazoo County" (Dr. M. 

 Gibbs); breeds; nests in June, in orchards, bushes or trees; eggs four to six, laid at 

 intervals, blue; feed on hairy caterpillars. I have often seen them eat the Tent Cater- 

 pillar Clisiocampa americana. Forbes found (see Report of Michigan Hort. Soc., 

 1891, p. 204) that seventy-five per cent of the food of birds of this species which he 

 examined consisted of canker worms. 



SUBORDER ALCYONES. KINGFISHERS. 

 Strong billed birds; food almost entirely fish. 



FAMILY ALCEDINIDJE. KINGFISHERS. 



Feed on fish; found about streams; kill fish by using them as a hammer; utter a 

 whirring note as they fly along the creek or river. 



GENUS CERYLE BOIE. 



Belted Kingfisher, reduced. 



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