COCCYZINiE. 
1. P. cayana (Linn.) PI. enl. 211. — Coccyzus macrocercus 
Vieill C. cayanensis Swains. 
2. P. minuta (Vieill.) Ency. Meth. p. 1346., Briss. Orn. iv. t. 16. 
f. 2. — Cuculus cayanus ft Lath. 
3. P. brachyptera (Less.) — Cuculus cayanus var. y Lath. ; Ma- 
cropus caixana Spix, Av. Bras. t. 43. 
4. P. chrysogaster (Cuv.) Less. Tr. d’Orn. p. 1 40. 
5. P. erythrorhyncha (Cuv.) Less. Tr. d’Orn. p. 141. 
6. P .ferruginea (Gould), Proc. Z. S. 1843. p. 105., Voy. of 
Sulphur, Birds, pi. 
7. P. erythropygia Less. Rev. Zool. 1 842. p. 209- 
8. P. rutila (Vieill.) N. Diet. d’Hist. Nat. viii. p. 277- — Cuculus 
monachus Cuv. ; Type of Coccycua Less. (1831). 
9. P. punctulata (Gmel.). 
10. P . ehiriri Vieill. N. Diet. d’Hist. Nat. viii. p. 273. w Azara, 
No. 269. 
11. ? P. dominica (Linn.) Briss. Orn. iv. t. 9 . f. 2. 
12. P. cinerea Vieill. N. Diet. d’Hist. Nat. viii. p. 272., Azara, 
No. 268. 
13. P. pluvialis (Gmel.) Sloan. Jam.pl. 258. f. 1. 
14. P. ridibunda (Gmel.) Vieill. 
15. P. melacorypha Vieill. N. Diet. d’Hist. Nat. viii. p. 271., 
Azara, No. 267- 
16. P. cornuta (Linn.) Will. Orn. pi. 38. 
Coccyzus Vieill .* 
Bill long and rather slender, with the culinen curved, and the sides compressed to the tip, which is 
entire ; the lateral margins curved, and the gonys long and slightly curved ; the nostrils sunk in a short 
membranous groove, with the opening anterior and oval. Wings lengthened and rather pointed, with 
the third and fourth quills nearly equal and longest. Tail long, broad, and rounded on the sides. Tarsi 
shorter than the middle toe, rather slender, and covered in front with broad scales. Toes unequal ; and 
the claws long, compressed, curved, and acute. 
These birds are found in both North and Central America, and occasionally in Europe. They prefer the densest 
woods, the borders of solitary swamps, and orchards ; and, being shy, seek the thickest foliage for concealment. Their 
food consists of caterpillars and perfect insects, small shell-fish, snails, and small frogs. When in season, they feed also 
on fruits and berries, and are accused of sucking the eggs of other birds. “ In then- migrations northward, they move,” 
says Mr. Audubon, “ singly ; but, when removing again to warmer latitudes, they appear to be gregarious, flying high 
in the air, and in loose flocks.” The note, remarks Wilson, is an uncouth guttural sound, resembling the syllables 
“ kowe ” several times repeated, beginning slowly, but ending so rapidly that the notes seem to run into each other ; 
and it is supposed to be more clamorous immediately before rain. The nest is usually placed amid the horizontal 
branches of a tree, in some retired part of the wood. It is composed of small sticks and twigs, intermixed with green 
weeds and blossoms of the common maple, and is much flattened. The female generally lays from three to four eggs. 
While she is sitting, the male is generally not far distant, and gives the alarm by his notes, when any person is 
approaching. The female sits so close, that she may almost be reached with the hand, and then precipitates herself to 
the ground, feigning lameness, fluttering, trailing her wings, and tumbling over, to draw the observer away from the 
spot. Both parents unite in providing food for the young ; this consists for the most part of caterpillars. 
1. C americanus (Linn.) PI. enl. 816., Wils. Amer. Orn. pi. 28. 3. C. minor (Gmel.) PI. enl. 813. — Cuculus seniculus Lath. 
f. 1. — Coccyzus pyrrhopterus Vieill. Audub. B. of Amer. pi. 2., Audub. B. of Amer. pi. 169 . 
Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 242. 
2. C. erythropthalmus (Wils.) Amer. Orn. pi. 28. f. 2., Audub. 
B. of Amer. pi. 32. 
* Vieillot established this genus in 1816 (Analyse, S$c. p. 28.). Coceyzon of M. Gloger (1 827), Cureus of M. Boie (1831), Erythrophrys 
of Mr. Swainson (1837), and Coccygius of Nitzseh (1840) are synonymous with the name employed. 
September, 1846. 
