62 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



not black) and narrow subterminal dark brown bands ; wing- 

 feathers as upper -parts but distal portions of inner webs duller 

 brown and middle portions towards shafts more or less tinged 

 rufous (not chestnut as in C. a. americanus) becoming creamy-buff 

 on inner portions of innei webs. Moult probably as G. a. americanus 

 but only four (Aug-Oct.) have been examined in moult and these 

 were moulting on body only. Summer. — A number of May examples 

 were moulting slightly on body and tail and there is perhaps a 

 complete moult rather later in the year than in G. a. americanus 

 but material available is insufficient to make sure of this . 



Nestling. — One commencing to grow feathers appears to have 

 no down. 



Juvenile. — As adult but feathers of upper -parts including 

 all wing-coverts with narrow greyish-white tips, rump considerably 

 browner and feathers with whitish tips ; under -parts with tips 

 and edges of feathers of a silky texture and appearance ; edges of 

 wing -feathers with strong rusty tinge ; tail-feathers with small and 

 inconspicuous buffish -white tips without or with only very ill- 

 defined dark subterminal bands 



First winter. — Browner on crown than adult, wing-coverts 

 and wing -feathers with outer webs strongly tinged with rust-colour, 

 tips of tail-feathers as in juvenile. The body -feathers and wing- 

 coverts and apparently also primary -co verts and all wing- and 

 tail-feathers are moulted Sept. -Oct., but material available is 

 insufficient to make quite certain of extent of moult. 



Measurements and structure. — (J wing 135-143 mm. (one 132), 

 tail 146-160, tarsus 23-25, bill from skull 26-29 (12 measured). 

 $ wing 137-150. Primaries : 3rd longest, 4th rarely equal, usually 

 1-5 mm. shorter, 1st 48-55 shorter, 2nd 16-19 shorter, 5th 7-15 

 shorter ; outer webs not definitely emarginated but narrowing 

 slightly on distal halves. Tail graduated, two central pairs longest, 

 3rd pair 5-15 mm. shorter, 4th pair 20-25 shorter, outermost pair 

 55-62 shorter, 10 feathers, tips rounded. Rest of structure as 

 G. a. americanus. 



Soft parts. — Bill : upper mandible pale greyish-blue, tip dusky, 

 under mandible black ; legs and feet pale bluish -grey ; iris dark 

 brown ; eyelids and bare skin round eye red in adult, yellow in 

 young (Ridgway). 



Characters. — No subspecies. Brown tail-feathers with short 

 white tips, want of chestnut in wings and dark under mandible 

 distinguish it from C. a. americanus. 



Breeding-habits. — Not parasitic as a rule but shows a tendency 

 to it. Nest. — Better built than that of Yellow-billed Cuckoo, of 

 fine twigs, soft inner bark of cedar, roots, etc., lined soft material, 

 and placed on horizontal bough of bush or tree, not higher than 

 6 ft. Eggs. — 2 to 7, greenish-blue, dull and varying in shade in 



