The Cuckoo. S3 



Family— C UC UL ID/E. 



I 



TiiK Great Si'dttkd CucKfjo. 



Coccystes glandarius, LiNN. 



ABOUT tliree examples of this species have been obtained at long intervals 

 ranging over upwards of fifty years ; the first specimen being an immature 

 example in poor condition captured on the island of Ome}^ ofif the coast of 

 Conneniara, and the last being, I believe, obtained as lately as 1896. It is an 

 inhabitant of Southern Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa, but visits 

 South Africa in the winter. It seems probable that these specimens may have 

 escaped from captivitj' ; but at best the species can onh^ be regarded as a chance 

 wanderer to our shores. 



Fam ily— C UC ULID^. 



The American Yellow-Billed Cuckoo. 



Coccyzus anicricauus, LiXX. 



SIX examples of this bird have been shot or picked up dead in the British 

 Isles, the first in co. Cork in 1825, and the last on Lundy Island in October 

 1874. I quite agree with Howard Saunders in being unable to "believe that they 

 have crossed the Atlantic without human assistance." 



