HEEON. 79 



is five or six more before the young birds are able to quit 

 the nest. 



The finest specimen of this bird that I think I ever saw, 

 is preserved in the hall of the Eectory at Svvinhope, the 

 residence of my friend, the Eev. R. P. Alington. It was shot 

 in the parish of Thoresway, Lincolnshire, February 21st., 

 1853. The following measurements are taken from it: 



Male; weight, only about three pounds, or from that to 

 three and a half, according to the condition the bird is in 

 from a plentiful or a scanty supply of food; length, three 

 feet two inches and a half; bill, dull yellow, darkest towards 

 the point. The edges of both mandibles are serrated and 

 very sharp, the lower fitting closely into the upper woe 

 betide the fish that gets between them. From the base of 

 the bill a narrow streak runs over the eye, and a larger one 

 which merges into the occipital feathers. Iris, yellow, a 

 streak of black over it rises from the base of the bill; fore- 

 head, head on the sides, and crown, white. The plume is 

 seven inches and a half long, and of a glossy dark slate- 

 colour, in some specimens glossy dusky black; neck behind 

 and nape, grey; in fropt the neck is white, or greyish white, 

 variegated, in a long list or stripe, with elongated spots of 

 dark bluish grey, forming a double row; chin, throat, and 

 neck in front, pure white. Breast above and below, greyish 

 white, with streaks of black on the latter portion; the 

 elongated feathers on its uppers are pale grey, and many of 

 them pure white. There are two patches of yellow down on 

 the front, concealed by the other feathers. Back, dark grev. 



The wings expand to the width of five feet; the first quill 

 feather is of equal length with the fifth; the second, third, 

 and fourth are also nearly of the same length, and the longest. 

 Greater and lesser wing coverts, grey; primaries and secondaries, 

 dusky black. Tail, short, dark slate- colour, in some dusky 

 black. The legs, when stretched out behind, extend five 

 inches and a half beyond the tail; in colour they and the 

 toes are greenish yellow, tinged with brown; the middle one 

 is serried on the inner edge; above the knee the legs are 

 tinged with orange. Claws, brown. 



The female resembles the male, but her colours are more 

 dull. The plume is deficient, and the feathers on the breast 

 are less elongated. 



The young are at first unsightly in appearance, but soon 

 advance in size; during the first and part of the second year 



