YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO. 393 



white tips, the outermost HBually edged with white. Bill extensively yellow below and 

 on the sides. Size of the last. 



Habitat, Eastern United States and British Provinces. West to the Kooky Mountains. 

 Cidifomia. South through Mexico and various West India Islands, and Central A.merica 

 into South America as far as Baenos Ayres. Accidental in Europe. 



Common summer resident. Breeds. Arrives and departs with the 

 last species and frequents the same resorts, but is rather more confined to 

 the wooded banks of streams. Not unfrequent in orchards, and in gar- 

 dens of the city. The following paragraph from the pen of Dr. Coues 

 (Birds N. W. p. 277) is a happy description of the manners of the 

 Cuckoos : 



" The peculiar notes of this bird, sounding like the syllables Tcoo-Tcoo-Tcoo, indefinitely 

 repeated, are probably uttered more frequently during the atmospheric changes preced- 

 ing falling weather, and have given rise to the name " Rain Crow," by which both our 

 species are universally known to the vulgar. The Yellow-biUed is rather the noisier 

 bird of the two, and its voice is more forcible. It is a rather shy and unfamiliar species, 

 inhabiting high, open woods, as well as the large shade-trees of parks and cities, and 

 generally remains high among the branches. When dashing about, in active pursuit of 

 the various large-winged insects that form its chief food, they are conspicuous objects, 

 the metallic olive-gray flashing in the sun, and the snowy under parts contrasting with 

 the verdure. Bnt ordinarily they are hidden birds, oftener heard than seen; they pass 

 from one tree to another steathily, with a rapid, gliding, noiseless flight, and often rest 

 motionless as statues for a long time, especially when crying out, or when they have 

 detected a suspicious object. They court the seclusion of the thickest foliage. Their 

 curiosity is not small, and they may be observed to frequently peer down with inquisi- 

 tive looks through the dense foliage, trying to make out some unusual object. Although 

 not parasites, like the European species, devoid of parental instinct, they have their 

 bad traits, being even worse enemies of various small, gentle birds ; for they are aban- 

 doned thieves, as wicked as Jays in this respect, continually robbing birds of their eggs, 

 and even, it is said, devouring the helpless nestlings." 



The nest and eggs of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo resemble so much those 

 of the other species that the same description answers for both. The eggs 

 of this species are generally a shade lighter in color and average some- 

 what larger, 1.30 by .85. Dr. Jones states that he has found the eggs of 

 this bird in the nest of the Cardinal Grosbeak, and of one the Cuckoos 

 in that of the Catbird. One peculiarity in the nesting habits of these 

 birds is, that no sooner is an egg laid than the female begins incubation, 

 and it is a common thing to find young of difi^erent ages or young and 

 eggs in the same nest. 



SuB-ORDEK Pici. Piciform Birds. 

 FAMILY PICIDJS. WOODPECKERS. 



Feet zygodaotyle by reversion of the outer or fourth toe. Highly scansorial ; tail of 

 twelve rigid acuminate feathers, whereof the outer pair are short and spurious, concealed 



