ii6 cassell's book of birds. 



and almost equals the head in length. The feet are short, and wings long. The long graduated tail 

 is composed of ten slender feathers. The plumage of the Rain Cuckoo is entirely of a light greyish 

 brown above, and greyish white on the under side. The exterior quills are bordered with brownish 

 orange, the tail-feathers black, tipped with white, the eye is deep brown, the upper mandible 

 brownish black, and lower one of a yellow shade ; the feet are blueish gre)\ This bird is twelve 

 inches and a half in length ; the wing measures five inches and a half, and the tail sbc inches and 

 three-quarters. 



" A stranger who visits the United States," says AVilson, " and passes through our woods in the 

 month of May or June, will sometimes hear, as he traverses the borders of deep, retired, high-timbered 

 hollows, an uncouth guttural sound or note, resembling the syllables 'kowe, kowe,' beginning very 

 slowly, but ending so rapidly that the notes seem to run into each other. He will hear this frequently 

 without being able to discover the bird or animal from which it proceeds, as it is both shy and 

 solitary, always seeking the thickest foliage for concealment. This is produced by the Yellow-billed 

 Cuckoo, which, from its cry, is known in Virginia as the Cow Bird. It is also called the Rain Crow, 

 being observed to be most clamorous immediately before rain." 



" The flight of this species," Audubon tells us, " is rapid, silent, and horizontal, as it moves from 

 one tree to another, or across a field or river, and is generally continued amongst the branches of the 

 trees in our woods. When making its way among the boughs, it occasionally inclines the body to 

 either side, so as alternately to show its whole upper or under parts. During its southward migrations, 

 it flies high in the air, and in such loose flocks that the birds seem to follow each other, instead of 

 keeping together. On the other hand, the males arrive singly ; the males coming first, and the 

 females a few weeks after. They do not fly in a continued line, but in a broad front. This bird is 

 not abundant anywhere, and yet is found very far north. I have met with it in all the low grounds 

 and damp places in Massachusetts, along the line of Upper Canada, pretty high on the Mississippi 

 and Arkansas, and in every State between these boundary lines. Its appearance in the State of New 

 York takes place before the beginning of May, and at Green Bay not before the middle of that 

 month. A pair here and there seem to appropriate certain tracts to themselves, where they rear 

 their young in peace and plenty. The Yellow-billed Cuckoos feed on insects, such as caterpillars and 

 butterflies, as well as on berries of various kinds, evincing a special predilection for the mulberry. In 

 autumn they eat many grapes, and I have seen them supporting themselves by a momentary action of 

 their wings opposite a bunch, selecting the ripest, when they would seize it and return to a branch, 

 repeating their visits in this manner till satiated. They will also now and then descend to the ground 

 to pick up a ^^'ood-snail or a beetle. They are extremely awkward at walking, and move in an 

 ambling manner, or limp along sideways, a clumsiness for which their short legs are an ample excuse. 

 They are seldom seen perched conspicuously on a twig ; but, on the contrary, are generally to be 

 found among the thickest boughs and foliage, where they emit their notes until late in the autumn, 

 after which they are discontinued. The nest is simple, composed of a few dry sticks and grass, 

 formed much like that of the Common Dove, and like it fastened to a horizontal branch, often within 

 the reach of man. The bird would appear to make no particular selection as to situation or the 

 nature of the tree, but setdes anywhere indiscriminately. The eggs are four or five, of an oval form, 

 and of a bright green colour. Only one brood is reared in the season, unless the first is removed or 

 destroyed. According to Brewer the female commences sitting as soon as her first egg is deposited, 

 it being no uncommon occurrence to find fresh-laid eggs and others containing almost fully developed 

 young in the same nest. At first the young are principally fed on insects. Towards autumn they 

 become very fat, and are fit for being eaten ; few people, however, shoot them for the table, exceptmg 

 the Creoles of Louisiana." 



