26 ORNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES. 



neck, and as silently as possible ascended a Scotch 

 fir which commanded from its upper branches 

 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 dif- 

 ficulty 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 inhabi- 

 tants of the nest : they were three in number, ap- 

 peared to be not more than a week or ten days 

 old, and were partly clothed with a haiiy 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 

 suddenly dropped again ; their great staring eyes, 

 writhing necks, and naked bodies ; altogether con- 



between his shoulders, and muffled up in a collar of loose 

 feathers, he passes the greater portion of his time, appa- 

 rently lost in an absent fit; but as his dinner-hour ap- 

 proaches, he gradually rouses himself, his long neck is 

 unfolded, his plumage becomes compact and smooth, he 

 screams with delight, and stalks about the yard.- 



