142 



its presence for some time after arrival. Its notes, too, are entirely 

 different from those with which European writers have made us 

 familiar. The calls of our birds are less musical but have a charm of their 

 own and a wildness and unusual quality in keeping with their natures. 

 The two Canadian species are very much alike in their calls; a loud 

 startling "Kaow-kaow-kaow" is the most characteristic and one that, 

 on the still summer air, can be heard for a quarter of a mile or more. 

 Again they have a "Kuck-kuck-kuck" note like a big clock beating seconds, 

 that has not the range of the above but has considerable carrying power. 

 In regard to their parental duties, our birds show considerably more reali- 

 zation of responsibility than the European. They are slightly parasitic 

 in their habits, that is, they occasionally drop their eggs in the nests of 

 other birds and shelve upon them the cares of raising their young, but the 

 practice is not common. The old English word "Cuckold" refers to and 

 is based upon this habit of the European bird. This is not a common 

 practice with the American, as it is with the Old World species, and is 

 perhaps only accidental. 



Economic Status. Cuckoos are almost entirely insectivorous, but 

 occasionally take small amounts of wild fruit. Their great value lies in 

 the fact that they show special fondness for certain insects that other 

 species rarely touch. Hairy caterpillars which, on account of their bristly 

 coatings, are safe from more fastidious birds, are regularly eaten by Cuckoos. 

 The interior of a Cuckoo's stomach will be found lined with a coating of 

 spiny caterpillar bristles set in the walls and projecting from them like fur. 



Genus — Coccyzus. Cuckoos. 



387. Yellow-billed Cuckoo, fr. — le cottcotj 1 bec jatjne. Coccyzus americanus. 

 L, 12-20. Plate XVII A. 



Distinctions. The Yellow-billed Cuckoo may be mistaken only for its relative the 

 Black-billed. The yellow on the bill, from which it gets its name, is the easiest means of 

 identification. Additional distinguishing marks are a broad area of suffused cinnamon on 

 the wings, that is conspicuous in flight, and considerably more white on the ends of the tail 

 feathers. 



Field Marks. The long flexible outline in flight and the general coloration make thit 

 bird recognizable as a Cuckoo. The yellow lower mandible, cinnamon wing marks, and 

 the large amount of white on the tail fix the species. 



Nesting. Loose structure of sticks not far from ground. 



Distribution. This species is of rather more southern distribution than the next, 

 but the data seem to point to its increase in numbers and distribution within the past thirty 

 years. Its range just overlaps the southern borders of Ontario, Quebec, and New Bruns- 

 wick. 



SUBSPECIES. There are two races of this species recognized in Canada. The 

 Eastern Cuckoo, the typical form, extends west to the plains. 



388. Black-billed Cuckoo, fr. — LE cotjcotj X bec noir. Coccyzus erythrophthal- 

 mus. L, 11-85. Plate XVII A. 



Distinctions. Can be distinguished from the Yellow-billed by its all-black bill, lack 

 of cinnamon on the wings, and the smaller amount of white tips on the tail. 



Field Marks. The above make the best field marks available for the species. The 

 characteristic Cuckoo flight and outline are easily recognized. 



Nesting. Loose structure of sticks not far from the ground. 



Distribution. A bird of wider and more northern distribution than the Yellow-billed 

 Cuckoo; irregularly in the more settled parts of the country south of the gulf of St. Lawrence 

 and west to the Manitoba line. 



