68 CUCULID^ : CUCKOOS. 



of it as a rather frequent summer resident of Massachu- 

 setts, somewhat irregularly dispersed, and very variable 

 in respect to numbers in different years. At Amherst, 

 where I have found it breeding, it is more or less numer- 

 ous every year. According to Mr. Brewster it was not 

 seen by him at Upton, Franconia or Gorham, and was 

 rare at Norway, in Maine. 



The nests and eggs cannot always be distinguished 

 from those of the Black-billed Cuckoo, with that cer- 

 tainty requisite for the value of oological material ; the 

 eggs are, however, on an average more oval, larger and 

 paler greenish. The same irregularity and delay in ovi- 

 position that we have noted in the case of the Black- 

 billed is witnessed in the present instance, it being the 

 rule to find in the nest eggs in various stages of incuba- 

 tion, with or without young birds also ; and this species 

 shows the same lingering tendency to drop eggs in alien 

 nests. It has recently been established that the Ground 

 Cuckoo of the Southwest, Geococcyx californianus, has 

 the same habit ; and various irregularities of the kind 

 are probably more prevalent among American Cuckoos 

 than many are aware. The species of Crotophaga, for 

 example, offer the curious case, that a flock clubs to- 

 gether to build an enormous nest, in which several indi- 

 viduals lay their eggs and hatch their young in a singular 

 sort of communism. Thus it appears that our Cowbirds 

 (Molothrus) are far from being alone among American 

 birds in undesirable domestic traits. 



