26 OKNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES. 



neck, and as silently as possible ascended a Scotch 

 fir wliicli commanded from its upper brandies 

 a good view of a large nest in a neighbouring 

 tree. The evergreen boughs, moreover, were so 

 well clothed with leaves, that I found less diffi- 

 culty than I had expected in concealing myself; 

 but notwithstanding all my care the old birds 

 had taken the alarm when I began to climb, and 

 I had to wait a long time before either of them 

 returned. I had, however, a good opportunity of 

 examining with my glass the grotesque inhabit- 

 ants of the nest: they were three in number, 

 appeared to be not more than a week or ten days 

 old, and were partly clothed with a hairy down, 

 resembling hemp or flax in colour and appear- 

 ance; their heavy heads, crowned with tufts of 

 this, and raised occasionally as they opened their 

 enormous mouths in expectation of food, and then 



wistful glance on the now vacant water ; but his 

 favourite position is in a corner of the yard, cheek- 

 bj^-jowl with a large watch-dog. Here, with his head 

 drawn back between his shoulders, and muffled up in 

 a collar of loose feathers, he passes the greater portion 

 of his time, apparently lost in an absent fit ; but as his 

 dinner-hour approaches, he gradually rouses himself, 

 his long neck is unfolded, his plumage becomes com- 

 pact and smooth, he screams with delight, and stalks 

 about the yard. 



