204 
but on the arrival of the female, he, returns 
again to the eminence. Instances are record- 
ed (when the female has been destroyed) of 
the male bird having taken upon himself 
the important business of incubation, and 
succeeded in rearing the young. 
The young birds have at first their backs 
white and black, or brownish colour, and 
their bellies very white ; but they soon 
put off this livery, and become grey. 
Their legs and beaks are of a pink or 
flesh colour. About the month of Septem- 
ber they begin to assume their beautiful 
feathers ; but it is not before the second 
year that their colours gain their full lus- 
tre : and their puberty is strongly charac- 
terized, by a very considerable enlargement 
of the knob at the base of the beak, which 
at that season becomes of a fine coral red. 
These birds seem to pair, and to conti- 
nue so throughout the year. We have be- 
fore stated that they prefer the vicinity of 
the sea, into which element the young are 
conducted as soon as hatched, or, as soon 
as they are able to waddle along; and 
well authenticated anecdotes are recorded 
