PLATE CCXXXIV. 



they appear daik^ and uniformly of one colour. The plumage is 

 white throughout, or in the younger birds the quill feathers are tipped 

 with black. 



The fpecies is an inhabitant of various parts of Europe, being found 

 as far north as Iceland, and to the fuuth, according to Kolben, even 

 to the Cape of Good Hope. They, preferring as it appears the more 

 temperate climates, frequent the entrance of rivers about the fea coafts, 

 where they build in lofty trees ; the female lays three or four eggs the 

 fize of thofe of a hen, and of a white colour fpeckled with red. They 

 are faid to be very noify in the breeding feafon, and to feed on frogs, 

 fnakes, and fifti, teftaceous animals, and plants : grafs, weeds, and the 

 undigefted remains of the common ftickleback have been found in the 

 ftomach on diffe6lion. 



The fielh is of a remarkably deep colour, but is reputed favoury, 

 and without any fifhy tafte. The latter circumftance we (hould how- 

 ever conclude, muft depend upon the nature of its food for fometime 

 previous to its capture, for when it has been conftrained to fubfift for 

 any confiderable period upon fifti it is fcarcely to be doubted that the 

 fiefti will imbibe that flavour. 



PLATE 



