. Bird lore . stvaluable birds we have. Unlike the Europeanrepresentative of the family,it is not customary for theAmerican Cuckoo to layeggs in the nests of otherbirds, but they have beenknown to lay in otherCuckoos nests, and, veryrarely, they have para-sitized other birds. Due tothis parasitic habit, sowidely mentioned, theCuckoo is well known throughout the country and for some peculiar reason,probably that he is supposed to utter his call-notes before a storm, he iscommonly called Rain-Crow or Rain Dove. I was eager to study this interesting bird, so, when I found a nest of theBlack-bille
. Bird lore . stvaluable birds we have. Unlike the Europeanrepresentative of the family,it is not customary for theAmerican Cuckoo to layeggs in the nests of otherbirds, but they have beenknown to lay in otherCuckoos nests, and, veryrarely, they have para-sitized other birds. Due tothis parasitic habit, sowidely mentioned, theCuckoo is well known throughout the country and for some peculiar reason,probably that he is supposed to utter his call-notes before a storm, he iscommonly called Rain-Crow or Rain Dove. I was eager to study this interesting bird, so, when I found a nest of theBlack-billed species in a small clump of wild cherry and young elm trees, Iresolved to watch the nest and take some photographs. The nest contained three dull bluish eggs, and the female had been incu-bating them for they were quite warm. But she had doubtless heard myapproach and quietly slipped from the nest. The next day a make-believecamera, made up of three sticks and an old oil-can, was set up nearby, so that (277). YOUNG BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOThe quill-sheaths remain close until the bird is nearly readyto leave the nest, then open within a few hours 278 Bird - Lore the old bird would get accustomed to it and not notice the camera that wasto be substituted later on. In a few days all the eggs had hatched. The young grew rapidly on theirdiet of tent caterpillars, and several photographs were taken of the adultsfeeding them. When the old bird returned to the nest and found me nearby,she would fluff out her feathers, droop her wings, and flutter around throughthe branches, appearing three times her normal size and kuck-kucking heralarm all the while. Young Cuckoos are peculiar-looking little fellows, for instead of theirfeathers growing out gradually, as is the case with other birds, they grow outenclosed in a quill-like sheath. After a time these sheaths break open, and ina few hours the young bird is fully feathered. I wanted very much to watchthis process but was disappointed, for when
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectorn
