SPOTTED CUCKOO. AMERICAN CUCKOO. HOOPOE. 103 



'the bird were to be met with, no doubt they would have re- 

 cognised it. The bird, when chased by the hawks, appeared 

 weak, fatigued, and emaciated, as though it had taken a long 

 flight, as woodcocks and other birds of passage do on their 

 arrival." 



Habitat Northern Africa. 



SPECIES 101 THE YELLOW-BILLED AMERICAN CUCKOO. 



Cuculus Americanus. Linn. 

 Coucou cendrillard. Temm. 



THIS rare wanderer from the shores of the "great continent" 

 has only occurred in two instances in Ireland, one coming 

 under the notice of Dr. Ball at Youghal, the other obtained 

 at Bray in the autumn of 1852. 



Its habits are somewhat similar to those of our common 

 species, only that it has a greater development of that mater- 

 nal kindness so deficient in the cuckoo of Europe, rearing 

 its brood and bringing them forth with all the solicitude of 

 a parent. Its call-notes are not so melodious or musical as 

 those of our own species, and have been likened to the syllable, 

 " cow, cow," " cow, cow," repeated very often, and for which 

 it has obtained in the United States its common name of 

 " cow bird." 



It has likewise been remarked by its describers to vary its 

 diet, by occasionally preying upon young birds and eggs.* 



Habitat North America. 



SUB-ORDER TENUIROSTRES (SLENDER-BILLED 



BIRDS). 



FAMILY XVIII UPUPID^E (HOOPOE). 



GENUS LI UPUPA (HOOPOE). 



SPECIES 102 THE HOOPOE. 



Upupa epops. Linn. 

 Huppe puput. Temm. 



THIS really elegant bird, exceedingly beautiful in plumage, and 

 no less so in the perfection of its form, has occurred during 

 different seasons in various portions of the island, from the 

 suburbs of Dublin to the remotest isles of Arran, on the 

 Galway coast. Few persons can form any idea of its beauty 



* Audobon* 



