24 



YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO. 



{Coccyzus Americanus.) 

 This curious bird does not arrive as soon as many of 

 our feathered friends, summer being well advanced be- 

 fore it makes its appearance. The plumage is olive 

 green above and white below, with a little brown mix- 

 ed in on the wings and tail. The bill is long and curv- 

 ed: the tail is also long; the bird in general being long 

 and rather slim. Its note sounds something like the 

 sylables cow-coio, repeated several times. It is generally 

 shy, concealing itself among the thick foliage of the 

 trees. The nest is placed in a tall bush, about fifteen 

 feet from the ground, and is composed of sticks loosely 

 thrown together. Eggs are two in number, of a light 

 green tint, about an inch long, and are chalky in struc- 

 ture. The black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus Erythrop- 

 hthalmus), is not as common a specie. 



SCREECH OWL. 



(Scops Asio.) 



The note of this bird is more of a plaintive melody 

 than a screech. When the trees are bare, and wintry 

 winds are blowing, the note of this bird makes the 

 hearer feel rather sad: it sounds like a mournful la- 

 ment over some misfortune. The pli^mage is a mot- 

 tled brown and white; the bill and feet are strong 

 and thick, the eyes are surrounded by disks, as is the 

 case with all owls. The nest is placed in a hollow 

 tree, and is composed of bits of bones and feathers 

 which it disgorges after eating. The eggs are four 

 in number, white, and nearly round. This bird is 

 not heard in the summer season. 



