BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO. 
BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO. 
CUCULUS ERYTHROPTHALMA Plate XXVIII. Fig. 2. 
Peole's Museum, No. 1854. 
COCCYZ US ER YTHROPTHALMUS. — Bonaparte. * 
Coccyzus erythropthalmus, Bonap. Synop. p. 42. — The Black-billed Cuckoo, Audi. 
pi. 32, male and female ; Qrn. Biog. i. p. 170. 
This Cuckoo is nearly as numerous as the former, but has 
hitherto escaped the notice of European naturalists ; or, from 
its general resemblance, has been confounded with the pre- 
ceding. Its particular markings, however, and some of its 
habits, sufficiently characterize it as a distinct species. Its 
general colour above is nearly that of the former, inclining 
more to a pale ash on the cheeks and front ; it is about an 
inch less in length; the tail is of a uniform dark silky drab, 
except at the tip, where each feather is marked with a spot 
of white, bordered above with a slight touch of dull black ; 
the bill is wholly black, and much smaller than that of the 
preceding ; and it wants the bright cinnamon on the wings. 
But what constitutes its most distinguishing trait is, a bare 
wrinkled skin, of a deep red colour, that surrounds the eye. 
The female differs little in external appearance from the male. 
The Black-billed Cuckoo is particularly fond of the sides 
of creeks, feeding on small shell fish, snails, &c. I have also 
often found broken pieces of oyster shells in its gizzard, which, 
like that of the other, is covered with fine downy hair. 
The nest of this bird is most commonly built in a cedar, 
much in the same manner, and of nearly the same materials, 
* Wilson, I believe, deserves the credit of distinguishing this species. It 
is closely allied to, hut differs widely, both in its habits and feeding, from its 
congeners and the true Cuckoos. In addition to shells and water insects, 
Audubon mentions having found in their stomachs a small black frog, which 
appears after a summer shower Ed. 
