218 COCCYGUS AMER1CANUS. 



These birds are extremely solicitous for the safety of their young and care for them 

 long after they have left the nests. It is difficult to tell exactly when the Cuckoos take 

 their departure as in autumn they are much more retiring in habit than in spring and as the 

 note is seldom given then, they must be seen in order to ascertain their presence. I have 

 found them as late as the last of September in Pennsylvania and the Bangs Brothers ob- 

 tained one in Waltham, Massachusetts, as late as the middle of October but this is excep- 

 tional for it is probable that the majority depart in early September. 



COCCYGUS AMERICANUS. 

 Yellow -billed Cuckoo. 



Coccygus Americanus BON., Obs. Wils.; 1825, 47. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. Cn. Form, rather robust. Size, medium. Sternum, rather stout. Tongue, long, thin, wide at the base, and 

 quite horny, especially near the tip which is bifid, and about one third of the terminal portion of the sides is provided with 

 coarse cilia. Space around eye, naked. 



COLOR. Adult. Above, including wings and central tail, plumbeous-brown with a greenish gloss everywhere except- 

 ing on top of the bead. Beneath, white, with the under wing coverts overwashed with yellowish. Three fourths of the 

 basal portion of the inner webs of the wing feathers are dark-cinnamon which encroaches upon the outer webs. Central 

 pair of tail feathers slightly tipped with black, remaining feathers nearly black, excepting basal portion of the more central, 

 tipped with white which extends along the outer webs of outer feathers. Spot in front of eye, ring around it, and trian- 

 gular area back of it, dusky. Naked space around eye, yellowish. Bill, black, yellow on basal three fourths of lower man- 

 dible and on edges of corresponding portion of upper. Feet, bluish. 



Young. Very similar to the above but the tail is not as dark and there is less yellow on the lower mnndible and none 

 on the edges of the upper. 



Nestlings. Are not unlike the above. There is a more decided greenish gloss. The top of the head Is lighter. Feath- 

 ers of the upper parts, narrowly edged with white. Bill, wholly black, excepting a small spot of yellow on the center of 

 lower mandible. Sexes, similar in ail stages. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Specimens vary greatly in size as in the preceding species. Judging from a nestling which yet retains a trace of the egg 

 tooth, this organ is not shed as is usual but is worn away, (see observations on page 21(>) . Readily known from the Black- 

 billed Cuckoo by the yellow bill, cinnamon on the wings, and broader white tipping to the tail. Differs from the Man- 

 grove Cuckoo as given under that head. Distributed during summer throughout Eastern United States from the latitude 

 of Georgia to that of the White Mountains. Winters in South America. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of thirteen specimens from New England. Length, 1T85; stretch, 19-25; wing, 5-75; tail, 5'50; 

 bill, -72; tarsus, -92. Longest specimen, 12-70; greatest extent of wing, 20-00; longest wing, 6'00; tail, G'OO; bill,- 80; tar- 

 BUS, -95. Shortest specimen, ll'OO; smallest extent of wing, 18-50; shortest wing, 5'50; tail, 4-10; bill, -75; tarsus, 1-00. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed in trees and bushes, flat in form and very loosely constructed of sticks, pine needles, leaves, and weeds, 

 lined with leaves, catkins of the willow, etc. Dimensions, external diameter, 9'00, internal, 4'50. External depth, 2'00, 

 internal, -75. 



Eggs, four in number, elliptical in form, light greenish blue in color, unspotted, but sometimes overwashed with whit- 

 ish. Dimensions from l'lOx'75 to l'28x '80. 



HABITS. 



Although the Yellow-billed Cuckoo is found regularly in Pennsylvania and is always 

 as abundant as the Black-billed, yet it is quite irregular in Ihis respect in New England. 

 Some seasons it will be very common and at others it is extremely difficult to find a spec- 



