86 Contributions from the Charleston Museum. 



ORDER COCCYGES: CUCKOOS, KING- 

 FISHERS, ETC. 



FAMILY CUCULIDjE: CUCKOOS, ANIS, ETC. 



157. Coccyzus americanus (Linn.). Yellow-billed Cuckoo. 



The Yellow-billed Cuckoo, locally known as the "Rain 

 Crow," is a summer resident, generally arriving between April 

 15 and 17, 'and remaining until November, the 7th of that month 

 being my latest record. This species breeds on the Battery as 

 well as on the Mall in the city of Charleston, placing its nest, 

 which is composed of sticks and leaves arranged in a slovenly 

 manner, on horizontal branches of live oak trees. Full comple- 

 ments of eggs of the first brood, which are almost always three, 

 are laid by May 15. My earliest record is May 2, 1908, when 

 I took four eggs. The birds begin to incubate as soon as the 

 first egg is deposited, and, as the eggs are usually laid at irregular 

 intervals, it is not unusual to find an incubated egg in a nest with 

 young birds. A second set is laid in August, and I have seen 

 young birds nearly ready to leave the nest, as well as young just 

 hatched, and three eggs in different stages of incubation, all in 

 the nest at the same time. The eggs are pale greenish blue and 

 measure 1.25X-90. 



This species destroys the eggs of other birds, but compensates 

 by devouring innumerable caterpillars which are injurious to 

 pecan groves as well as to forest trees. 



The Yellow-billed Cuckoo winters in Central and South America. 



FAMILY ALCEDINHLE: KINGFISHERS. 



158. Ceryle alcyon (Linn.). Belted Kingfisher. 



This well-known species is a permanent resident on the coast, 

 but during the breeding season the birds are restricted to certain 

 places where there are bluffs bordering rivers, or high sand hills 

 fronting the ocean, and where these features are wanting the birds 

 are entirely absent. The nesting place is a hole excavated in a 

 bank by the birds, and extending inward to a depth of five to ten 

 feet. Although I have explored many holes of the Kingfisher, I 

 have never taken the eggs, being invariably too early or too late. 



1 The earliest record of the Charleston Museum for this species is April 10, 1908, when 

 one was seen on the College of Charleston campus by Mr. J. H. Taylor. On the following 

 day one was reported by Mr. H. R. Sass. — Ed. 



