C0Oui,iDiE. BIRDS. CucuLLoa:. 
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shrill, screeching buzz of extraordinary loudness, 
to be produced by such a small creature. This 
sound Mr. 11. noticed wlien the bird was passing 
overhead, in a manner not observed in any other 
species, its horizontal flight being by a peculiar un- 
dulating course. 'J’he shrill noise made by the male 
of this species, he suggests, may be caused by the 
curious attenuated and stiffened outer primary. 
HEIOISA’S HUMMING-BIRD {Atthis heloisa).— 
'I'his is a Mexican and Central American species. 
i\Ir. Salvin found it as far south as Guatemala. It 
goes forth to feed only in the evening and morning. 
It resembles the Selasphorus in shape, and differs so 
little from species of that genus that they are easily 
mistaken on first view. 
XANTUS’ HUMMING-BIRD (Heliopcedica xantusi). 
— J’his is so distinct that it requires no comparison 
with any other species. It is new to the North 
American Fauna, having been described by Mr. 
Lawrence in 18C0, from specimens found by Mr. 
Xantus at Cape St. Lucas. 
lINNAlUS’ EMERALD {Thaumatias linnmi). — This 
is a South American bird, and is introduced into 
our Fauna on the authority of Air. AVm. Brewster, 
of Boston, who shot a straggler near that city. 
Family— CUCULID^. 
This is a strongly-marked group of birds, having 
the toes in pairs, deeply cleft or not united, the outer 
anterior toe usually versatile, but directed rather 
laterally than backward. 
PAISANO; ROAD-RUNNER; CHAPARRAL COCK 
(Geococcyx californianus). — This is the only siiecies 
of the genus found within the limits of the United 
States. Another occurs in Alexico (the G. affinis), 
which is smaller. The present species has been 
called by one of its trivial names on account of its 
frequenting- the public highways. It is also called 
the Ground Cuckoo and the Prairie Cock. It is 
abundant in Arizona, New Alexico and Texas, where 
it has the reputation of being remarkably fleet of 
foot. In some sections it is hunted for amuse- 
ment on horseback, and even with hounds. Though 
having the terrestrial habits of the gallinaceous birds, 
it has no affinities thereto, but belongs to the 
Cuckoos. Its food consists of insects, and even 
terrestrial shell-fish. Though generally confined to 
the ground, when suddenly alarmed it takes wing 
and shows itself an able flier. Its nest is con- 
structed somewhat after the style of that of the 
Yellow-billed. Cuckoo, the eggs being large, white 
and nearly spherical. It is unsocial, never seen in 
flocks, and has for a note only a weak scream, which 
it seldom utters. Dr. Cooper says he heard one 
making a low cooing noise like that of a Dove, for 
which it was first mistaken ; afterwards he heard it 
cooing harshly and chattering its mandibles to- 
gether, at the same time jerking up its tail and 
erecting its crest. It is said that these birds become 
quite tame, and remain about gardens and yards, 
destroying mice, which they catch with as much 
dexterity as a Cat. 
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO ( Ooccygus americanus). 
— fl’he American Cuckoos are different from those of 
Europe, having lengthened, naked tarsi, instead of 
very short, feathered ones. 'J'he nostrils are elon- 
gated, instead of rounded, and the habits are entirely 
different. 'I'he American species rears its own' young, 
instead of depositing its eggs in other birds’ nests, 
like the bird of Europe. The Yellow-billed Cuckoo 
is distributed throughout North America, from Can- 
ada to Florida, and from the Atlantic Coast to Cali- 
fornia. In all the West India Islands it is common. 
Wilson says of this bird: “In marked contrast to 
the singularly unparental conduct of their European 
relatives, the American Cuckoos build their own 
nest, hatch t heir own eggs, and rear their own young,” 
and that" in conjugal and parental affection they seem 
to be surpassed by no other birds.” He adds : “ 'I’hey 
begin to pair early in Alay, and commence building 
about the lOth of that month. The nest is usually 
fixed among the horizontal branches of an apple 
tree ; sometimes in a solitary thorn, crab or cedar, 
in some retired part of the woods. It is constructed 
with little art, and scarcely any concavity, of small 
sticks and twigs, intermixed with green weeds and 
blossoms of the maple. On this almost flat bed the 
eggs, usually three or four in number, are placed. 
'I'liese are of a uniform greenisli-blue color, and of a 
size proportionate to that of the bird. While the 
female is sitting, the male is usually not far distant, 
and gives the alarm by his notes when any person is 
approaching, 'i’he female sits so close that you may 
almost reach her with your hand, and then precipi- 
tates herself to the ground, feigning lameness to 
draw you away from the spot ; fluttering, trailing her 
wings, and tumbling over in the manner of the Wood- 
cock and other birds. Both parents unite in provid- 
ing food for their young. 'I’his consists chiefly of 
caterpillars, particularly such as infest apple trees.” 
MANGROVE CUCKOO (G. mwio?-).— This is a AVest 
Indian species, but is occasionally seen in the Florida 
Keys. Audubon says it is a regular summer visitor 
to Key AFest and the Florida Reef. 
BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO (G- erythroptlialmud ). — 
'I’his is a familiar bird in the United States. It dif- 
fers from the Yellow-billed in the black bill and iu 
the absence of black on the tail feathers, the white 
tips of which are much shorter and less abruptly de- 
fined. 'The sexes are quite similar. 'The Black-bill 
is closely like the other species in most respects — in 
its habits, size and general appearance — and is found 
distributed over the same districts, but is not so 
numerous. Air. Nuttall considers it less familiar 
than the other, building its nest in a more retired 
situation. In New England the Black-bill is quite 
abundant as a summer visitor. 
THE ANI; THE SAVANNAH BLACKBIRD (Gro- 
topliaga ani). — 'I’his bird belongs to a genus the 
species of which are all American. 'I'hey are all 
entirely black, the feathers of the neck and head 
having a peculiar stiffened, metallic or scale-like bor- 
der. 'The species are not numerous, one only being 
found in the United States. It is not a resident, 
but is occasionally seen on the keys of the Florida 
