BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO. 
131 
37 . COCCTZUS EBYTUROPUTIlALMUSi BONAPARTE. 
^^l^ULUS ERYTHROPUTII^P^^^Si M’ILSON. — BLACK-BILLED 
CUCKOO. 
''"^Lson, plate XXVIII. FIG. II* — EDINBUIIGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 
, This cuckoo is nearly as numerous as the former, 
has hitherto escaped the notice of European natu- 
or, from its general rescmlilance, lias been 
^'‘'‘founded’ with the preceding. Its particular mark- 
however, and some of its habits, sufficiently 
^araeterize it as a distinct species. Its general colour 
®“ovc is nearly that of the former, inclining more to a 
h'e ash on the cheeks and front; it is about an inch 
in leu'^th- the tail is of a uniform dark silky drab, 
^’^«ept at the tip, where each feather is marked with a 
of white, bordered above with a slight touch of 
black ; the hill is wholly black, and much smaller 
H that of the preceding ; and it wants the bright 
, "atnon on the wings. But what constitutes its 
j‘‘'*st distinguishing trait is, a hare. wrinkled skin, of a 
red colour, that surrounds the eye. The female 
’^“rs little in external appearance from the male. 
.i|Tho black-hilled cuckoo is particularly fond of the 
of creeks, feeding on small shell fish, 
j, ''^' o also often found broken pieces of oyster shells in 
^ h'izzard, which, like that of the other, is covered 
J' fine downy hair. . 
nest of this bird is most commonly built in a 
much in the same manner, and of nearly the 
materials, as that of the other; hut the eggs are 
j^'iller, usually four or live in number, and ot a rather 
^pei- greenish blue. , . „ , . r ri 
bird is likewise found in the state of Georgia, 
I'as not escaped the notice of Mr Abbot, who is 
c"'^?fied of its being- a distinct species from the pre- 
