CUCKOOS. 
11 
Of the genus Cuculus many species are enume- 
rated, inhabiting different parts of the Eastern con- 
tinent, but chiefly Africa, and varying in size from 
double that of our bird to less than one-half. The 
plumage of the smaller species is generally of a bril- 
liant glossy green. 
The genus is represented in America by that of 
Coccyzus ; the individuals of which are smaller 
than the true Cuckoos, which they much resemble. 
The bill is, however, rather larger in proportion ; and 
the tails longer and bare of feathers. Wilson gives 
the following interesting account of the habits of one 
of them. 
A stranger, says Wilson, who visits the United 
States for the purpose of examining their natural pro- 
ductions, and passes through our woods in the months 
of May or June, will sometimes hear, as he traverses the 
borders of deep, retired, high-timbered hollows, an 
uncouth guttural sound or note, resembling the 
syllables Icowe, kowe, kowe,kowe, koive, beginning slowly, 
but ending so rapidly that the notes seem to run into 
each other, and vice versa ; he will hear this frequently, 
without being able to discover the bird or animal from 
which it proceeds, as it is both shy and solitary, seek- 
ing always the thickest foliage for concealment. This is 
the Yellow-billed Cuckoo {Coccyzus car oUnensis.') From 
the imitative sound of its note, it is known in many 
parts by the name of Oow-Urd ; it is also called in 
Virginia the Bain-crow, being observed to be most 
clamorous immediately before rain. 
This species arrives in Pennsylvania, from the south, 
about the 22nd of April, according to Audubon, 
