1 
By actual count, a single Black-billed Cuckoo 
took 302 tent caterpillars from an apple tree in 
less than an hour. So says JameS Clark of 
Walnut Hill, Mass. 
0,<SsO. XIIJ. July. 1888 p /// 
The Cuckoo and Tent Caterpillar. 
BY HENRY HALES. 
The Tent Caterpillar has been very numerous 
in Northern New Jersey this summer, too much 
so for the farmers to keep them in check. At 
the same time the Black-billed Cuckoo was also 
very abundant, much more so than I ever re- 
member, I noticed them carry on a deadly war- 
fare on the tent caterpillar. In one instance I 
saw the Cuckoo perforate a tent, pull out and 
swallow five large caterpillars in succession, 
and I have noticed them many times, engaged 
in the same useful business. Those who so 
often condemn the birds for not destroying this 
pest would do well to observe a little closer as 
this is not the only species that feeds on them. 
When small and smooth many species relish 
them, but when they get large and hairy they 
have not so many enemies ; while the Cuckoo 
swallows them entire, some smaller birds skin 
off their rough coat before swallowing them. 
It is possible the numbers of cuckoos here, has 
been encouraged by the profusion of the tent 
caterpillars. O.&O. XIII. Dec. 183C p.188 
387. Coccyzus erythrophthalrnus (Wils.). 
Black-billed Cuckoo. Summer resident, but 
much more rare than the Yellow-billed 
Cuckoo. 
Q, 
356 .. Our Tvjp^ Cuckoos breeding in One Nest. 
Ibid., VI., p- 88 .''’ 
By Dr. II. A. Atkins. 
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