478 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



soenis to characterize the more southern and Jamaica specimens, which also 

 are smaller; northern specimens, however, show similar variations. In the 

 immature l)irds the umler surface of the tail-feathers is gray, not black, so 

 tliat the contrast with tlie white tips is very indistinct, as in eri/tlirop/ilhal- 

 mioi, in which, however, these light tips are nnuili nai'rower, while the bill is 

 entirely black. 



Specimens of this l)ird from re.i,'ions west of the Missouri, and especially 

 one from Cantonment Burjfwyn, Xew Mexico, are appreciably larger than 

 eastern, with decidedly longer bill. One brougiit from Mazatlan by Mr. 

 Xaiitus is uudistii'.guishable from the long-billed western variety. 



H.viiiTS. The Yellow-billed Cuckoo is distributed throughout North 

 America from Canada to Florida, and from the Atlantic coast to Cali- 

 fornia. It has been met with in all the principal West India Lslands. 

 I have r(!cei\ed specimens of its eggs and nest from Southwestern Te.xas. 

 Audul) jn mentions finding this bird liigh u]) on the Missi.ssippi Itiver, on 

 the iii)per branches of the Arkansas, and in Tpper Canada, as well as in 

 every State I)etween these limits. Mr. Newton found it breeding in tlje isl- 

 and of St. Croi.x, ]Mr. Gosse mentions it as a bird of Jamaica, and Lend)eye 

 gives it among those of Cul)a, and Mr. Salvin found it in Central America. 

 It is known to breed from tlie Wi'st Indies and Florida to Minnesota, and 

 from New IJrunswick to Texas. It does not appear to have been met with 

 in any of tlie government expeditions, except by Dr. Woodliouse, who sjjeaks 

 of it as very common in the Indian Territory, Texas, and New ^lexico. 



This species was seen on one occasion, and liei-rd at otiier times, near Sac- 

 ramento City, Cal., by Mr. Kidgway, in June, 18G7. It was there rare, or at 

 least not conunon, and found principally in the willow-tiiickets. It was 

 again met with in July, of the same year, along the Truckee Iiiver, in Ne- 

 vada, where, also, it appeared to be very rare. 



Wilson traced it as far north as Lake Ontario, and speaks of finding it 

 numerous in the Ciiickasaw and Ciioctaw nations, and as breeding in the 

 upper part of (Jeorgia. He seems to have oliserved very carefully its haluts, 

 and to have enjoyeil favorable oi)portunities for his observations. Ilis ac- 

 count of their nesting is interesting. He states that, in marked contrast to 

 the singularly unparental conduct of their European relatives, tlie Americau 

 Cuckoos build tlieir own nest, hatch their own eggs, and rear their own 

 young, and that in conjugal and parental affection they seem to be surjiasscd 

 by no other birds. He adds that they begin to pair early in May, and com- 

 mence building about the 10th of that month. 'He descril)es their nest as 

 usually fixed among the horizontal branches of an a])])le-tree ; sometimes in 

 a solitary thorn, crab, or cedar, in some retired pari of the woods. It is con- 

 structed with little art, and scarcely any concavity, of small .sticks and 

 twigs, intermixed with green weeds and blossoms of the nuiple. On this 

 almost fiat bed the eggs, usually tliree or four in number, are placed ; these 

 are of a uniform greenish-blue color, and of a size proportionate to that of 



