208 
YERTEBRATA, 
Northern Africa, but migrates in summer into Southern Europe ; it deposits its eggs in the nests 
of other birds, like the preceding; it 
even dupes the hooded crow, one of the 
most cunning of birds, so that it hatches 
and brings up the young cuckoos ^vith 
the greatest care, never suspecting the 
cheat that has been practiced ! 
The Croiopliaginai is a group of 
birds inhabiting tropical countries, and 
feeding on insects and fruits. Tiie 
typical genus, CROTOPHAGA, belongs 
to South America and the West Indies, 
though two species, the C. rugirostris 
and C. Ani, arc found within the south- 
ern boundaries of the United States. 
They arc somewhat parrot-like birds, 
about twelve inches long, live in bands 
in the borders of woods, especially in 
swampy places, and subsist on insects, 
larvjB, small reptiles, and certain fruits 
and seeds. Tt is said that several fe- 
males lay in one nest, where they hatch 
and bring up the young together, a sys- 
tem of socialism in curious contrast to 
the selfish isolation of the true cuckoos. 
Another species, the Channel-Bilt., 
Sci/throps Novm Hollandiw^ is the size 
of the crow, with a very long tail ; it 
feeds on insects and fruits ; found in 
Australia and the Asiatic Islands. 
Genus COCCYZUS : Coccyzus,—To 
this belongs the Common American 
Ct7Ckoo, C. Americanus, often called 
the Yellow-hilled Cuckoo. It is twelve 
inches long, of a very slender form ; 
grayish -brown above, with greenish re- 
flections ; below whitish ; its food con- 
sists chiefly of hairy caterpillars, cock- 
chafers, and the eggs of small birds. It 
is found from the Eastern United States, 
to the Missouri plains. It is migratory, 
appearing among us in May, but seldom 
passing farther north than Massachu- 
setts ; it is shy, and seeks concealment 
in the thick foliage of the trees. It 
pairs, and displays great conjugal 
fidelity ; it hatches several broods in a 
season, and often has birds of several 
ages in the same nest. It is said to 
be a bad nest-maker, and an improvi- 
dent nurse. Tt seems that something 
of that defect of character which so 
THE GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO. dcbases the European cuckoo, attaches 
THE EUROPEAX CDCKOO. 
1\ 
