3^8 Dr Adam on the Ciconia Jrgala, or Adjutant Bird, 



ed upon, and at the same time less studied, than the subject of 

 the following description. We are all familiar with the appear- 

 ance of the Adjutant bird, and know something of its habits: 

 'its astonishing voracity, for instance, is a frequent topic of con- 

 versation ; and the singular orange-coloured bag depending from 

 the neck, while it gives a peculiarity to its expression that can- 

 not fail to attract attention, has also furnished abundant matter 

 of speculation as to the purposes which it serves in the economy 

 of the animal. Of these, however, we are yet entirely ignorant ; 

 nor does it appear that we are much better informed regarding 

 its general internal structure. 



Adjutant Bird, Gigantic Stork ^ Ciconia Argala, Hurgeela. 

 — One of the largest of the storks, whose general character is 

 formed by his great size, enormous bill, bare head and neck, 

 long limbs, and, above all, by a peculiar solemnity in his gait 

 and general demeanour, that renders the appearance of the bird 

 extremely striking and interesting. He measures from the 

 crown of the head to the foot five feet two inches, and his other 

 dimensions are proportionably great : across the body, from the 

 tip of one wing to that of the other, seven feet ; length of body, 

 from junction of the neck to the vent, two feet; breadth one; 

 bill in length, sixteen inches; at its broadest part two inches; 

 legs two feet and a half. General colour of plumage, blactc or 

 slate-blue ; a few of the small feathers surrounding the lower 

 part of the neck, white, and those of the belly and the under 

 part of the wings ; the larger wing-coverts blackish or bluish 

 grey ; all the others slate-blue, as mentioned. Tail short ; bill 

 strong, horny, almost bony, sharp at the edges, broad at the 

 base, straight and tapering towards the point; inferior man- 

 dible composed of two sides, joined by a membrane not capable 

 of much dilatation ; nostrils, a slit at the base of the bill, which 

 is common to both, and passes directly through ; head the size 

 of the base of the bill, by which it appears in a great measure 

 to be formed, and the one merely a continuation of the other ; 

 head bare (excepting a little soft long hair at the back part), 

 and scurfy ; iris white. The bareness of the head, and white 

 iris, combined with the other peculiarities, gives this bird an un- 

 commonly grave aspect; and in his whole expression, but par- 

 ticularly that of the eye, he resembles very much a kindred 



