122 Wild Birds and their Haunts 



FACULTIES OF BIRDS GENERALLY. 



ONE of the most voracious of carnivorous birds is 

 the gigantic crane, or, as it is termed in India, 

 the Adjutant (Ciconia argala). It does not, how- 

 ever, rank in systematic arrangements as a bird of prey 

 any more than the bustard, though the latter lives partly 

 on animal food. 



The structure of the stomach in the adjutant corres- 

 ponds with this similarity in habit, though the solvent 

 glands are differently formed from those of any other 

 bird. These glands are not placed round the upper 

 portion of the stomach, but form two circular figures, 

 about one inch and a half in diameter on the fore and back 

 part of it, each gland being composed of five or six cells, 

 and each opening into one common pipe. The gizzard 

 and digastric muscle are nearly of the same strength with 

 that of the crow, and the former is lined with a similar 

 horny cuticle. 



These birds are not only capable of digesting bones, as 

 Spallanzani proved eagles and owls to be, but they seem 

 to be fond of them, swallowing every bone which they 

 can get down their gullet, whence they are denominated 

 bone-eaters. It has been stated by Sir Everard Home 

 that there was found in the craw and stomach of one of 

 these birds a land tortoise, ten inches long, and a large 

 male black cat, entire. 



The adjutants are said to be met with in companies, 

 and when seen at a distance, near the mouths of rivers 

 coming towards an observer, which they often do, with 

 their wings extended, may well be taken for canoes upon 

 the surface of a smooth sea ; when on the sand-banks, for 

 men and women picking up shell-fish or other things on 

 the beach. 



One of these, a young bird about five feet high, was 

 brought up tame, and presented to the Chief of the 

 Bananas ; and, being accustomed to be fed in the great 

 hall, soon became familiar, duly attending that place at 



