BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO. 
COCCYGUS ERYTHROPHTHALMUS. 
T is the black-billed cuckoo whose song, with very lit- 
tle merit, has become famous. It must be the low 
pitch, the solemn manner of delivery, and the quality of 
tone that have attracted the attention of the writers; for 
there is little variety in the rhythm and the least possible 
in the melody. The rather doleful, straightforward rep- 
etition of the singer’s name is not heard every day; the 
cuckoo, too, has his moods. 
7 x 5 5 5 me 
bas a a = ries ge = re ca —p ial 
rep ry @ 3 @ a 
Cuck - 00, euck 00, euck 00, coo, 
cpi—s n % 5 5 5 5 
| oo p i. = tT = ba ik =a ot & TH oe ro 
Eee é é z r é ri ri Zz 
Cuck - 00, euck 00, coo, cuck - 00, coo, 
y 4. 2. ~~ mt y. 4. mii 
Ee é 4 z = 4 
Cuck - 00, euck 00, c00, cuck - 00. 
I have heard this bird nearly every summer of my life, 
and never any departure from the old, monotonous strain 
until recently (1888.) Early one June morning, sultry 
and warm, a bird was exercising his voice in a manner 
