332 BIRDS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



resembles the other ; but is a much handsomer bird. It is 

 known by its colors, black and crimson, and by the white bands 

 upon the wings. 



Z YGODACTYLI. 



The YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, Coccyzus Americanus, arrives 

 from the south about the first of May, and is by no means an 

 uncommon bird. It is often heard when it cannot be seen, 

 uttering its loud, coarse notes, in rapid succession, from the 

 depth of the woodland shade. There is a prevailing impres- 

 sion that the cuckoo's cry is the harbinger of rain, from which 

 it has derived its popular name of rain-crow. This bird flies in 

 silence, under the shadow of the foliage, as if it were conscious 

 of the discreditable manner in which its living is obtained, 

 and were not desirous to call the public attention to its pro- 

 ceedings ; for when thus seen, it is passing from the nest of 

 one small bird to another, to suck the new laid eggs. But 

 this is not all its subsistence. It devours many insects, among 

 others the large yellow cockchafer, and thus does some good 

 to man, to atone for its injuries to its own race. 



The cuckoo seldom follows the example of its foreign name- 

 sake, which lays its eggs in the nests of other birds. In this 

 country, that kind of knavery is almost confined to the cow- 

 bird. It builds for itself a hasty and carelessly constructed 

 nest. The eggs, from two to four in number, are bluish green. 

 If they are disturbed, the female is apt to desert the nest ; but 

 if the young are hatched, it is so devoted and affectionate, that 

 it will almost be taken in the hand, rather than abandon its 

 charge. The young are fed with the hairy caterpillars that 

 are found on apple trees ; but it is well that they are not 

 more numerous, since they might greatly diminish the num- 

 bers of other birds whose services would be more important 

 than theirs. 



