378 YELLOW-BILLED AMERICAN CUCKOO. 
we have seen, this change of colouring takes 
place among all the True Cuckoos, between the 
young state and the attainment of the adult 
plumage. There is trifling distinction between 
the sexes. 
The American form of the Cuculinte has been 
taken as the type of a distinct genus by Mr 
Swainson. In several parts of structure it differs 
from the True Cuckoo, and the birds also vary by 
being sylvan in their habits, and in forming for 
themselves a nest, and rearing tlieir own young. 
Mr Swainson has given the characters of his 
genus as follows : — 
Erythrophrys, Swain. — Generic characters. 
— “ Head not crested ; nostrils oval ; wings 
lengthened, pointed, extending beyond the 
tail coverts, the third quill longest, the 
second much shorter than the fourth ; tarsus 
moderate, naked.” 
Type. — E. Carolinensis. 
Note. — America. Rear their own young. 
Habits sylvan. 
Erythrophrys Americanus, Yellow-billed 
American Cuckoo. — Cuculus Americanus, Linn. 
— C. Carolinenis, Wils. — Coccyzus Americanus, 
Bonap. Eyton, Sj-c. — Erythrophrys Americanus , 
Swain . — Virginia or Carolina Cuckoo of modern 
British authors . — A few specimens of this bird 
