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specimen was killed near Lucca, in Italy, in 1857, and was examined and determined by Dr. Carl 

 Bolle in the same year. The second example, obtained in Europe, killed at Killead, co. Antrim, 

 Ireland, on the 25th September, 1871, was at first recorded by Mr. Blake Knox as C. ameri- 

 canus; but Lord Clermont (Zool. 1872, p. 3022) and Dr. Sclater (P. Z. S. 1872, p. 681) both 

 proved that it was really a Black-billed Cuckoo. 



The true habitat of the present species is America, where it is found from Canada down as 

 far as Peru. It is stated by Audubon to occur during the breeding-season in the Canadas, Nova 

 Scotia, and Southern Labrador ; and Nuttall records it as found during migration in Newfound- 

 land. It is found throughout the United States to the Indian territory in the west, beyond which 

 it does not appear to have been met with on the Pacific side ; and it breeds as far south as Georgia. 

 In Texas it is said to be very rare ; and I never met with it when collecting there. M. Salle 

 obtained it in Mexico, and McCleannan in Panama; Dr. Sclater received it from Bogota, 

 Mr. Salvin from Guatemala ; Mr. Lawrence records it from Costa Rica ; and Mr. Hauxwell 

 obtained it at Ucayali. Leotaud records it from Trinidad ; and Dr. Gundlach states that it visits 

 Cuba in the winter months, but is rare. 



In habits the present species is stated to agree closely with its ally, the Yellow-billed 

 Cuckoo ; and, like that species, it constructs its own nest and incubates its own eggs. Mi - . Nuttall 

 says that it is less shy even than the Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and that he has observed near the 

 nest with young the parent bird composedly sit and plume itself for a considerable time without 

 showing any alarm at his presence. Dr. T. M. Brewer gives (N.-Atn. Birds, ii. p. 485) the 

 following details respecting its nidification : — " In all the instances in which I have observed the 

 nest of this species I have invariably found it in retired damp places, usually near the edges of 

 the woods, and built, not in trees, after the manner of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo, but in bushes 

 and in low shrubbery, often not more than two or three feet from the ground. The nest, without 

 being at all remarkable for its finish, or the nicety of its arrangement, is much more artistic and 

 elaborate than that of the Yellow-bill. It is composed of twigs, roots, fine strips of bark, and 

 moss, and is sometimes interwoven and partially lined with soft catkins of trees, and blossoms of 

 plants. The eggs vary from three to six in number, and are often found to have been deposited, 

 and incubation commenced on them, at irregular intervals, and to be in various stages of develop- 

 ment in the same nest. I have hardly been able to observe a sufficient number of their nests to 

 be able to state whether this species carries this irregularity as far as the Yellow-bill ; nor am I 

 aware that it has ever been known to extend its incubations into so late a period of the season. 

 It is, if any thing, more devoted than the Yellow-bill to its offspring. Both parents are assiduous 

 in the duty of incubation, and in supplying food to each other and to their offspring. In one 

 instance, where the female had been shot by a thoughtless boy as she flew from the nest, the 

 male bird successfully devoted himself to the solitary duty of rearing the brood of five. At the 

 time of the death of the female the nest contained two eggs and three young birds. The writer 

 was present when the bird was shot, and was unable to interpose in season to prevent it. 

 Returning to the spot not long afterwards he found the widowed male sitting upon the nest, and 

 so unwilling to leave it as almost to permit himself to be captured by the hand. His fidelity 

 and his entreaties were not disregarded. His nest, eggs, and young were left undisturbed ; and, 

 as they were visited from time to time, the young nestlings were found to thrive under his 



