HEROK. 
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 Rectory at Swinhope, the 
residence of my friend, the Rev. 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—wee 
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 front 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 grey. 
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 
