PAROQUETS, COCKATOOS. ORDER PSITTACI

PARROTS AND PAROQUETS. FAMILY PSITTACIDAE

CAROLINA PAROQUET

_Conuropsis carolinensis carolinensis_

A long-tailed, green Paroquet with a yellow head,
orange forehead and cheeks. L. 12-1/2.

_Range._ Formerly southeastern United States north
to Virginia, west to Nebraska and Texas; now
southern Florida where it is on the verge of
extinction, if not extinct.

Washington, extinct, known only from specimens
shot in Sept., 1865.

The Paroquet has paid the penalty of wearing bright plumes, of making a
desirable cage-bird, of being destructive to fruit, and of having little
fear of man. Once abundant and wide-spread, for nearly the past half a
century it has been restricted to Florida, where the species will soon
go out of existence, if it has not already done so. Its nesting habits
are unknown.

CUCKOOS, KINGFISHERS, ETC. ORDER COCCYGES

CUCKOOS, ANIS, ETC. FAMILY CUCULIDAE

YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO

_Coccyzus americanus americanus. Case 7, Fig. 1_

Broadly white-tipped tail-feathers, a partly
yellow bill, and largely reddish brown primaries
distinguish this species from its black-billed
cousin. L. 12-1/2, of which one-half is tail.

_Range._ Nests from northern Florida to Canada;
winters in tropical America, returning to the
United States in April.

Washington, common S.R., May 3-Oct. 13. Ossining,
common S.R., May 4-Oct. 31. Cambridge, common
S.R., May 12-Sept. 15. N. Ohio, common S.R., Apl.
20-Sept. 25. Glen Ellyn, quite common S.R., May
15-Sept. 29. SE. Minn., common S.R., May 21-Aug.
20.

Cuckoos are common birds, but are more often heard than seen. Their
notes are not like those of the cuckoo clock, which exactly imitates the
voice of the European Cuckoo, but a series of _cuck-cuck-cucks_ and
_cow-cows_ repeated a varying number of times. The Cuckoo rarely makes
long flights but slips from one tree to another, seeking at once the
inner branches and avoiding an exposed perch. The nest, a platform of
sticks, thinly covered, is placed in low trees or bushes. The 3-5
greenish blue eggs are laid in May.

BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO

_Coccyzus erythrophthalmus. Case 7, Fig. 2_

A wholly black bill (note that in both our Cuckoos