57

1916.

94. Kingfisher. Being seldom anywhere near the river this spring I saw
comparatively few Kingfishers. Two appeared at the Farm on April 11 [April 11, 1916] flying
low over the lane where one of them alighted in the top of an elm before
following the other to the little pond in the Berry Pasture where a
single bird was afterwards flushed from a leafy maple on May 3 [May 3, 1916].
Another was heard at the Farm on April 16 [April 16, 1916] and still another seen there
on wing, on June 28 [June 28, 1916]. Norton informs me that a pair bred in a
sandbank east of Sleepy Hollow, near Bedford Street, and the long occupied
hole in Howe's sand bank near Holden's Hill was, I think, again tenanted
for a bird was flying about it on April 16 [April 16, 1916].

95. Yellow-billed Cuckoo. First noted at October Farm on May 27 [May 27, 1916]
- a late date of arrival. Afterwards heard almost daily through
the entire month of June, usually in the Berry Pasture, sometimes in
the apple orchard, occasionally in Birch Field. It is doubtful if
more than a single pair bred anywhere in that immediate
neighborhood. Elsewhere I noted the species only at Ball's Hill - June 29 [June 29, 1916].

96. Black-billed Cuckoo. Arrived at the Farm on May 27 [May 27, 1916] - again an
exceptionally late date for such appearances. Present throughout the breeding
season in normal numbers which exceeded those of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo
in at least the proportion of two to one. Like that species the Black-bill
seemed to prefer the brush-grown Berry Pasture to all other haunts
in our neighborhood. One heard there on the night of June 1 [June 1, 1916]cooed 
ceaselessly, at short intervals, from 10 to 12 P.M. although there was
then no light other than that shed by myriad stars shining in
a cloudless sky. All the while the birds voice came so loudly and
insistently through the calm air and my open window as to 
effectively prevent me from going to sleep - yet it was very 
pleasing to listen to.