"This remarkable owl," says Dr. Coues, "conspicuous in size and color, abounds in 

 the boreal regions of both hemispheres, whence it comes southward irregularly in Winter, 

 sometimes raiding in large numbers. With us, it is of every Winter occurrence in the North- 

 ern and Middle States, sometimes even pushing its way to the Carolinas and Texas ; there 

 being no part of the United States where it may not appear at that season. It is far from 

 being exclusively nocturnal, and hunts abroad in the day-time as readily as any hawk." 



PLATE IV. BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO. 



t 



Coccy^us erytbropbtbalmus. 



Above olive-green ; beneath white ; a circle of red skin around the 

 eye ; bill black, long and arched ; tail long and rounded. Length, 

 11.80 inches. 



Migratory. Arrives early in May, leaves late in September. Nests in bushes. Call 

 kuk-kuk-kuh-kuk , many times repeated, commencing rapidly, but with slower enunciation 

 at the close. The sound does not in the least suggest the note of the European variety, 

 neither does it resemble the common pronunciation of its name. It has a hoarse quality, 



