BRITISH BIRDS. 



[vol. X. 



stiffly : the primaries are all separated and occasionally 

 some of the secondaries as well. (Fig. 3.) Each of these 

 then acts as a watercourse to drain the upper portions of 

 the wings. The bird is not absolutely lying on the young 

 but crouching over them. (Fig. 4.) At other times she 

 stands up and throws one wing out over the young 



Fig. i. SPAEKOW-HAWK. DUKING A TERRIFIC THUNDEESTOEM. 



(Youngest bird ou left). 



{Photographed by J. H. Owen.) 



and th^n gradually sinks down until this wing rests on 

 them. (Fig. 5.) 



Our experience was that the hen would always brood 

 the young, or perhaps it ought to be said shelter them, 

 in heavy rain, provided none of the brood had left the 

 nest. After that we think that she would be unlikely 

 to do so, but our information is limited on the point. 



