YELLUW-BILLED CUCKOO. 393 
white tips, the outermost usually edged with white. Bill extensively yellow below and 
on the sides. Size of the last. 
Habitat, Eastern United States and British Provinces. West to the Rocky Mountains. 
California. South through Mexico and various West India Islands, and Central America 
into South America as far as Buenos Ayres. Accidental in Europe. — 
Common summer resident. Breeds. Arrives and departs with the 
last species and frequents the same resorts, but is rather more confined to 
the wooded banks of streams. Not unfrequent in orchards, and in gar- 
dens of the city. The following paragraph from the pen of Dr. Coues 
(Birds N. W. p. 277) is a happy description of the manners of the 
Cuckoos : 
“The peculiar notes of this bird, sounding like the syllables koo-koo-koo, indefixitely 
repeated, are probably uttered more frequently during the atmospheric changes preced- 
ing falling weather, and have given rise to the name ‘ Rain Crow,” by which both our 
species are universally known to the vulgar. The Yellow-billed is rather the noisier 
bird of the two, and its voice is more forcible. It is arather shy and unfamiliar species, 
inhabiting high, open woods, as well as the large shade-trees of parks and cities, and 
generally remains high among the branches. When dashing abont, in active pursnit of 
the various large-winged insects that form its chief food, they are conspicuous objects, 
the metallic olive-gray flashing in the sun, and the snowy under parts contrasting with 
the verdure. But ordinarily they are hidden birds, oftener heard than seen; they pass 
from one tree to another steathily, with a rapid, gliding, noiseless flight, and of:en rest 
motionless as statues for a long time, especially when crying out, or when they have 
detected a suspicious object. They court the seclusion of the thickest foliage. Their 
curiosity is not small, and they may be observed to frequently peer down with inquisi- 
tive looks through the dense foliage, trying to make out some unusualobject. Although 
not parasites, like the European species, devoid of parental instinct, they have their 
bad traits, being even worse enemies of various small, gentle birds; for they are aban- 
doned thieves, as wicked as Jays in this respect, continually robbing birds of their eggs, 
and even, it is said, devouring the helpless nestlings.” 
The nest and eggs of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo resemble so much those 
of the other species that the same description answers for both. The eggs 
of this species are generally a shade lighter in color and average some- 
what larger, 1.30 by .85. Dr. Jones states that he has found the eggs of 
this bird in the nest of the Cardinal Grosbeak, and of one the Cuckoos 
in that of the Catbird. One peculiarity in the nesting habits of these 
birds is, that no sooner is an egg laid than the female begins incubation, 
and it is a common thing to find young of different ages or young and 
eggs in the same nest. 
SUB-ORDER Pict. Piciform Birds. 
FAMILY PICIDA. WOODPECKERS. 
Feet zygodactyle by reversion of the outer or fourth toe. Highly scansorial; tail of 
twelve rigid acuminate feathers, whereof the outer pair are short and spurious, concealed 
