CXLIX. 



COCCYZUS AMERICANUS. (Bona p.) 

 American Cuckoo. 



Upon the authority of Mr. Gould, I have figured the egg 

 of the American Cuckoo, furnished me from the collection of 

 Mr. Yarrell. Mr. Gould states that it has been four times 

 taken within the British Islands, twice in Ireland, once in 

 Wales, and in Cornwall. 



I copy the following from Wilson's American Ornithology. 



" The singular, I will not say unnatural, conduct of the 

 European Cuckoo, (Cuculus canorus) which never constructs 

 a nest for itself, is so universally known, that the whole tribe 

 of Cuckoos have, by some inconsiderate people, been stigma- 

 tized as destitute of all parental care and affection. 



Without attempting to account for this remarkable habit of 

 the European species, I will only remark, that the bird now 

 before us builds its own nest, hatches its own eggs, and rears 

 its own young. 



Early in May they begin to pair, when obstinate battles 

 take place amongst the males. About the tenth of the month 

 they begin building. The nest is usually fixed among the 

 horizontal branches of an apple-tree ; sometimes in a solitary 

 thorn, crab, or cedar, in some retired part of the woods. It is 

 constructed with little art, and scarcely any concavity, of 

 small sticks and twigs, intermixed with green weeds and 

 blossoms of the common maple. On this almost flat bed, the 

 eggs, usually three or four in number, are placed. While the 

 female is sitting, the male is usually not far distant, and gives 

 the alarm by his notes, when any person is approaching. 



Tlie female sits so close, that you may almost reach her 

 with your hand, and then precipitates herself to the ground, 

 feigning lameness, to draw you from the spot ; fluttering, 

 trailing her wings, and tumbling over, in the manner of the 

 Partridge, and many other species." 



