74 
THE BIRDS OF WISCONSIN. 
Cocoyzus erytliroplitlialmus (Wils.). BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO. 
A summer resident; rather hardier than the yellow-billed, 
arriving earlier and remaining' later; more common than that 
species also and more regular in distribution. From data at 
our command this species seems to range much farther north 
than the preceding and not to be so closely restricted to certain 
localities and certain kinds of timber. We have watched a pair 
of these birds, returning from day to day, eat and carry away 
the hairy caterpillars as fast as they left the web nest, in a small 
wild plum tree. We have found the eggs of one of the species 
of cuckoo, at least, in nests of the catbird, brown thrasher and 
rose-breasted grosbeak, but have never seen the young cared 
for by foster parents. 
FAHILY ALCEDINID/E KINGFISHERS. 
Ceryle alcyon (Linn,). BELTED KINGFISHER. 
A common summer resident. Arrives in southern Wis- 
consin about the first of April, and remains until the ice forms. 
Mr. Wm. H. Bennetts writes us of an individual which 
remained through the winter. An interesting bird, whose life 
history has been but slightly touched upon. A careful study 
of the habits and every day doings of the kingfisher has many 
surprises in store for the careful observer. 
ORDER PICI: WOODPECKERS, ETC. 
FAMILY PICID/E: WOODPECKERS. 
Dryobates villosus (Linn.). HAIRY WOODPECKER. 
Resident, common, but not nearly as abundant as the downy 
woodpecker. Not particularly a bird of the pine timber, it 
breeds from the southern tier of counties northward in hard- 
wood sections as well. Commoner in southern Wisconsin in 
winter. 
Dryobates villosus leucomelas (Bodd,). NORTHERN HAIRY 
WOODPECKER. 
Dr. Hoy and Thure Kumlien took specimens of this variety 
in the early days in both Racine and Jefferson Counties. Up to 
1875 it was a regular visitor in winter in the tamarack swamps 
