CUCKOOS 2S 



soon go out of existence, if it has not already done so. Its 

 nesting habits are unknown. 



CUCKOOS, KINGFISHERS, ETC. ORDER 

 COCCYGES 



CUCKOOS, ANIS, ETC. FAMILY CUCULID^E 



£ YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO 



Coccyzus americanus americanus. Case 7, Fig. 1 



Broadly white-tipped tail-feathers, a partly yellow bill, and 

 largely reddish brown primaries distinguish this species from its 

 black-billed cousin. L. 12J, of which one-half is tail. , 



Range. Nests from northern Florida to Canada; winters in, 

 tropical America, returning to the United States in April. 



Washington, common S. R., May 3-Oct. 13. Ossining, com- 

 mon S. R., May 4-Oct. 31. Cambridge, common S. R., May 12- 

 Sept. is. N. Ohio, common S. R., Apl. 20-Sept. 25. Glen 

 Ellyn, quite common S. R., May 15-Sept. 29. SE. Minn., 

 common S. R., May 21-Aug. 20. 



Cuckoos are common birds, but are more often heard 

 than seen. Their notes are not like those of the cuckoo 

 clock, which exactly imitates the voice of the European 

 Cuckoo, but a series of cuck-cuck-cucks and cow-cows 

 repeated a varying number of times. The Cuckoo rarely 

 makes long flights but slips from one tree to another, seek- 

 ing at once the inner branches and avoiding an exposed 

 perch. The nest, a platform of sticks, thinly covered, 

 is placed in low trees or bushes. The 3-5 greenish blue 

 eggs are laid in May. 



BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO 



Coccyzus erythrophthalmus. Case 7, Fig. 2 



A wholly black bill (note that in both our Cuckoos it is slightly 

 *urved), wings without reddish brown, and small, inconspicuous 



