NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



257 



be mistaken for those of the Black-billed on account of the coarseness of the nest, 

 larger size and paler color of the eggs. However, as a rule, the nest of the Black-bill 

 Is constructed with more care, the sticks being somewhat smaller, the catkins less 

 numerous, and the whole woven together in a firmer manner. The eggs are smaller, 

 less elliptical, and are of a darker green — deep glaucous-green or verditer-blue. 

 The nest complement varies from two to five, rarely six, usually four, and they are 

 found in all stages of incubation, as is the case with the eggs of C. americanus. Ten 

 specimens measure 1.13x.79, l.llx.86, 1.15x.84, 1.13x.80, 1.17x.82, 1.17x.84, 1.19x.80, 

 1.12X.86, 1.13X.82, 1.18x.89, with an average size of 1.14x.79. A very interesting note 

 concerning this species is made by Dr. Edgar A. Mearns in his "Birds of Hudson 

 Highlands."* He says: "The young are covered with curious-looking pin-feathers, 

 which give them an appearance like that of the wire swab used in gun 

 cleaning. The old bird is a. close sitter, and when obliged to leave the nest 

 moves off slowly upon the branches, 

 with wings and tail outspread. Some- 

 times it will come quite close to the ob- 

 server, and then utter for several min- 

 utes a low, mournful con, coo, coo, coo, 

 and then an outpouring of harsh, loud 

 notes that quickly bring the mate to its 

 side, all the while keeping its wings 

 and tail expanded, and crouching low 

 upon the branch. Its ordinary notes 

 are quite commonly heard at night as 

 well as during the day." 



[388. 1.] KAMCHATKAN CUC- 

 KOO. Cuculus caitorus tcleplionus 

 (Heine.) Geog. Dist. — Eastern Asia, 

 casually to the Pribilof Islands, Alaska. 



The Siberian Cuckoo is entitled to a 

 place in our avifauna on the strength 

 of a single specimen having been taken 

 by Mr. William Palmer at Northeast 

 Point, St. Paul's Island, Alaska, July 



4, 1890, and now in the TJ. S. National Museum. Nothing definite apparently i3 

 known concerning its nesting habits and eggs, but they undoubtedly correspond 

 with those of the European Cuckoo. 



♦ * European Cuckoo. 



389. COPPERY-TAILED TEOGON. Trogon ambiguus Goifld. Geog. Dist. — 

 Southern and Central Mexico, from Oaxaca and Guerrero, north to the valley of the 

 Lower Rio Grande in Texas and Southern Arizona. 



A specimen in my collection of this magnificent bird, the only representa- 

 tive of this family in the United States, was taken in the Huachuca Mountains,. 



* A List of the Birds of Hudson Highlands with Annotations. By Edgar A. Mearn»t 

 Bulletin of the Essex Institute, Vols. X-XIII, Part VIII, p. 76. 



