Birds of Massachusetts. 167 
ZY:GODASC TJ LI. 
The YrrLow-si.LED Cuckoo, Coccyzus America- 
nus, arrives from the south about the first of May, 
and is by no means an uncommon bird. 1t is often 
heard when it cannot be seen, uttering its loud, 
coarse notes, in rapid succession, from the depth of 
the woodland shade. There is a prevailing impres- 
sion that the cuckoo's cry is the harbinger of rain, 
from which it has derived its popular name of rain- 
crow. This bird flies in silence, under the shadow 
of the foliage, as if it were conscious of the discred- 
itable manner in which its living is obtained, and 
were not desirous to call the public attention to its 
proceedings ; for when thus seen, it is passing from 
the nest of one small bird to another, to suck the 
new laid eggs. But this is not all its subsistence. 
It devours many insects; among others the large 
yellow cockchaffer, and thus does some good to man, 
to atone for its injuries to its own race. 
The cuckoo seldom follows the example of its for- 
eign namesake, which lays its eggs in the nests of 
other birds. In this country, that kind of knavery 
is almost confined to the cow-bird. It builds for 
itself a hasty and carelessly constructed nest. The 
eggs, from two to four in number, are bluish green. 
If they are disturbed, the female is apt to desert the 
nest; but if the young are hatched, it is so devoted 
and affectionate, that it will almost be taken in the 
hand, rather than abandon its charge. The young 
