OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 93 



average 3-9 inches in length by 2-5 inches in breath. Incubation 

 is said to last a month, and appears to be performed by the female. 

 She is very wary in leaving and returning to her nest, and the 

 male keeps sentinel over the place ready to give the alarm at 

 the approach of danger, and to defend his home against intruders 

 weaker than himself. Only one brood is reared in the year, 

 and the young, clothed in brown down, are soon able to follow 

 their parents. They appear to keep together until the migration 

 period arrives, when more gregarious instincts are developed, 

 and for the remainder of the autumn and winter live in flocks 

 of varying size. 



Diagnostic Characters.— ^Cn^^, with the general colour of 

 the plumage slate-gray; the sides of the neck white, and the 

 tertials black, developed into elongated, curly, bushy plumes. 

 Occipital region bare of feathers and covered with scarlet warty 

 skin (adult). Length, 43 to 48 inches. 



