the eggs frequently roll off. They are located near the ground
in bushes or low trees. The three or four eggs are deposited at
intervals of several days, and frequently young birds and eggs are found
in the nest at the same time. Like the Flicker, this bird will
frequently continue laying if one egg is removed at a time, and as many
as twelve have been taken from the same nest, by this means. The eggs
are light greenish blue. Size 1.20 x .90. They are usually laid during
May or June.

[Illustration 246: Mangrove Cuckoo. Yellow-billed Cuckoo.]
[Illustration: Light greenish blue.]
[Illustration: Pale greenish blue.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]

Page 245

[Illustration 247: A. R. Spaid.
NEST AND EGGS OF YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO.]

Page 246

387a. CALIFORNIA CUCKOO. _Coccyzus americanus occidentalis._

Range.--Western North America, from British Columbia, southward.

Slightly larger and with a stouter bill than the last. Eggs not
distinguishable.

388. BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO. _Coccyzus erythrophthalmus._

Range.--United States east of the Rocky Mountains; north to Labrador and
Manitoba; south in winter to Central and South America.

This species is rather more common in the northern part of the United
States than the Yellow-billed variety. The bird is smaller, has a
blackish bill, and the tail is the same color as the back and only
slightly tipped with white. Their nests are built in similar locations
and of the same materials as used by the Yellow-bill; the three or four
eggs are smaller and a darker shade of greenish blue. Size 1.15 x .85.
All the Cuckoos are close sitters and will not leave the nest until
nearly reached with the hand, when they will slowly flutter off through
the underbrush, and continue to utter their mournful "Kuk-kuk-kuk," many
times repeated.

388.1. KAMCHATKA CUCKOO. _Cuculus canorus telephonus._

An Asiatic subspecies of the common European Cuckoo, accidentally
occurring in Alaska.

TROGONS. Family TROGONIDAE

389. COPPERY-TAILED TROGON. _Trogon ambiguus._

Range.--Southern Mexico, north to the Lower Rio Grande in Texas and in
southern Arizona, in both of which localities they probably breed.

This is the only member of this family of beautiful birds which reaches
our borders. This species is 12 inches in length, and is a metallic
green color on the upper parts and breast, and with coppery reflections
of the middle tail feathers, the outer ones bei