4 BRITISH BIRDS. 



A pair of these birds, supposed to be male and 

 female, visited this country in the long scorching 

 hot summer of 1826. The present subject was shot 

 by a servant of the Rev. John Matthew, of Kilve, 

 near Bridgewater. It had recently gorged itself 

 with a putrid lamb, which was supposed to be the 

 cause of its allowing itself to be approached within 

 shot.* The stench from it was intolerable. 



These birds, as far as can be known, are the first 

 that ever appeared at large in Britain. The stuffed 

 specimen was lent to the late Sir J. Trevelyan, 

 Bart., of Nettlecombe, Somersetshire, who oblig- 

 ingly sent a drawing of it for the use of this work. 



The measurements of the bird, taken by Mr. 

 Matthew, jun., were also sent to Sir John, as fol- 

 lows : From the point of the bill to the end of the 

 tail, two feet three inches ; from tip to tip of the 

 wings, about five feet six or eight inches and a half. 

 The plumage is composed of deepish brown and 

 buff: the shoulders, lesser coverts, and breast, 

 brown, more or less edged and tipped with buff: 

 the back, thighs, and tail are wholly of the latter 

 colour : the primaries are very dark brown, as is 

 also the ruff about the neck : the bill is dusky, and 

 hooked at the tip, with a few hairy looking feathers 

 on the brow and chin : the back part of the head 

 somewhat the same, but forming a more tufted or 

 crested appearance : the head and upper part of 

 the neck are quite bare of feathers, and the skin is 

 lightish blue : the legs are also of that colour ; 

 claws black. 



* Its associate was very wild : it was eagerly pursued, but could 

 not be approached. At length it flew away over the Quantox hills, 

 and thus took its final departure. 



