BIRDS OF THE UNITED STATES. 
265 
Plate XLV. 
COCCYZUS AMEEICANUS, (Linn.) Bp. 
Yellow-billed Cuckoo. 
The subject, whose habits we are about to introduce to our readers, 
has a wide range, and is variously distributed. It is found from Florida 
to Canada, and westward from the Atlantic to California. Audubon met 
with it along the Mississippi Biver, the upper branches of the Arkansas, 
and also in Upper Canada. Dr. Woodhouse found it quite common in 
New Mexico, Texas and the Indian Territory. In Nebraska it appears to 
be exceedingly rare, as it was only seen on two occasions by Ridgway in 
the snmmer of 1867. Wilson traced it north to Lake Ontario, from the 
Choctaw and Chickasaw nations. Outside of the United States, on the 
south, it has been observed by various parties: Newton, upon St. Croix 
Island; Gosse, in Jamaica; Salvin, in Central America; Lembeye, in Cuba; 
and even as far south as Buenos Ayres. 
Respecting its eastern record of distribution, writers on ornithology 
are pretty generally agreed. West of the Rocky Mountains, its range is 
not so well made out. 'Early observers accredited it to Oregon, but, in 
recent times, there has not appeared any confirmation of their statements. 
Its presence, even in California, was for a long time doubted, and it was 
thought that, as the notes of the Burrowing Owl resembled those of the 
Cuckoo, many may have been deceived thereby. So close is the likeness, 
that Dr. Cones acknowledges that he would have been delnded himself, 
had he not been forewarned. According to Cooper the noise produced 
by the Spade-footed Toad exhibits marked similarity. But there is now 
no longer any hesitancy in inclnding it in the avi-fauna of that State. 
