DESCRIPTIVE LIST 185 



KEY TO FAMILIES 



1. Toes 2 in front, 2 behind. The Cuckoos (Family Cuculidoe). 



1. Toes 3 in front, 1 behind, the outer and middle toes united for half their length; head crested. 

 Kingfishers (Family Alcedinidce). 



35. FAMILY CUCULID>E. CUCKOOS 



These are birds with the toes two in front and two behind. Many of the species 

 have more or less abnormal nesting habits, the European Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) 

 laying its eggs in the nests of other birds, like our Cowbird, while in the case of 

 some other species, several birds build one large nest in which to lay their eggs. 



KEY TO GENERA 



1. Bill almost as high as long; plumage black. Crotophaga. 



1. Bill more than twice as long as high; plumage brownish. Coccyzus. 



Genus Crotophaga (Linn.) 



168. Crotophaga ani (Linn.). THE ANI. 



Description. Entirely black, bluish reflections on wings and tail. Bill very heavy, nearly as 

 high as long. L., 12.00 to 15.00; W., 5.50 to 6.00; T., 7.50 to 8.25. 



Range. West Indies and Eastern South America, rare in Louisiana and southern Florida. 

 Occasionally accidental farther north. 



Range in North Carolina. Once taken near Edenton. 



The Ani, Black Witch, or Savannah Blackbird, obtains a place in this catalogue 

 through one having been taken near Edenton, August 23, 1866, and donated to 

 the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Science, where the specimen is still in exist- 

 ence. (W. W. Cooke, in letter of June 29, 1908.) 



This species has the curious habit of several females uniting to build a common 

 nest in which all their eggs are laid together. 



Genus Coccyzus (Vieill.) 



This comprises species with a slender, gently decurved bill, long wings, and a 

 long, graduated tail. 



KEY TO SPECIES 



1. Tail-feathers, except middle pair, mostly black, broadly tipped with white; basal half of 



lower mandible yellow. Yellow-billed Cuckoo. 

 1. Tail-feathers grayish brown, except middle pair, narrowly tipped with white. No yellow 



on bill. Black-billed Cuckoo. 



169. Coccyzus americanus americanus (Linn.). YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO. 



Description: Ads. Upperparts brownish gray with slight greenish gloss; most of the wing- 

 feathers rufous, except at the tip; outer tail-feathers black, conspicuously tipped with white, 

 which extends down the outer vane of the outer feather; underparts dull whitish; bill black, the 

 lower mandible yellow except at the tip. L., 12.20; W., 5.70; T., 6.20; B. from N., .76. (Chap., 

 Birds of E. N. A.) 



Range. Eastern North America, winters in South America. 



Range in North Carolina. Whole State in summer. 



The Yellow-billed Cuckoo, more commonly known as "Rain-crow," is a common 

 summer resident throughout the State, arriving late in April or early in May. 

 Some individuals remain until late October. 



