SPECIES 2. C UC UUSS ER YTHROPHTHhLMUS
               BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO.
               [Plate XXVIII.-Fig. 2.]
               PEALE'S Museumn, JXo. I854.
  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 preceding.
Its particular markings, however, and some of its habits, suffi-
ciently 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 distin-
guishing trait is a bare wrinkled skin, of a deep red colour, that
surrounds the eye. The female differs little in external appear-
ance 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, as that of
the other; but the eggs are smaller, usually four or five in num-
ber, and of a rather deeper greenish blue.
  This bird is likewise found in the state of Georgia, and has
not escaped the notice of Mr. Abbot, who is satisfied of its be-
ing a distinct species from the preceding.
END OF VOL. I.