16 



BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO. 

 CUCULUS ERYTHMOPTHALMA. 

 [Plate XXVIIL— Fig. 2.] 



Pe ale's Museum, JVo. 1854. 



THIS Cuckoo is nearly as numerous as the former ; but has 

 hitherto escaped the notice of European naturalists; or from its 

 general resemblance has been confounded with the preceding. Its 

 particular markings, however, and some of its habits, sufficiently 

 characterize it as a distinct species. Its general color above is 

 nearly that of the former, inclining more to a pale ash on the 

 cheeks and front; it is about an inch less in length; the tail is of 

 a uniform dark silky drab, except at the tip, where each feather is 

 marked with a spot of white bordered above with a slight touch of 

 dull black; the bill is wholly black, and much smaller than that 

 of the preceding ; and it wants the bright cinnamon on the wings. 

 But what constitutes its most distinguishing trait is a bare wrinkled 

 skin, of a deep red color, that surrounds the eye. The female dif- 

 fers little in external appearance from the male. 



The Black-billed Cuckoo is particularly fond of the sides of 

 creeks, feeding on small shell fish, snails, &c. I have also often 

 found broken pieces of oyster shells in its gizzard, which, like that 

 of the other, is covered with fine downy hair. 



The nest of this bird is most commonly built in a cedar, much 

 in the same manner and of nearly the same materials as that of the 

 other ; but the eggs are smaller, usually four or five in number, 

 and of a rather deeper greenish blue. 



This bird is likewise found in the state of Georgia, and has 

 not escaped the notice of Mr. Abbot, who is satisfied of its being a 

 distinct species from the preceding. 



