THE ADJUTANT BIRD 31 



constrictor, and, as in that case, no doubt supplies 

 oxj^'gcn to the lungs during protracted meals. The 

 bird can thus " guzzle " to its heart's content without 

 having to stop every now and then to take a "breather." 



But we must return to the appearance of the bird, for 

 the account of this is not yet complete, since no 

 mention has been made of the eye. This is white and 

 very small, and so gives the bird a wicked, knowing 

 expression, like that of an elephant. Colonel Cunning- 

 ham speaks of " the malignantly sneaking expression of 

 the pallid eyes." This is perhaps a little severe on the 

 adjutant, but it is, I fear, quite useless to deny the fact 

 that he has " a canister look in his heye." 



A mere description of the shape and colouring of the 

 adjutant does not give any idea of his comicality. It is 

 his acts rather than his appearance that make him so 

 ludicrous. Except when floating high above the earth 

 on his great pinions the bird always looks grotesque. 

 To say that he, as he walks along, recalls a hunch- 

 backed old man who is deliberately " clowning " is to 

 give a hopelessly inadequate idea of the absurdity of 

 his movements. Lockwood Kipling is nearer the mark 

 when he says : " For grotesque devilry of dancing the 

 Indian adjutant beats creation. Don Quixote or Mal- 

 volio were not half so solemn or mincing, and yet there 

 is an abandonment and lightness of step, a wild lift in 

 each solemn prance, which are almost demoniacal. If 

 it were possible for the most angular, tall, and demure 

 of elderly maiden ladies to take a great deal too much 

 champagne and then to give a lesson in ballet dancing, 

 with occasional pauses of acute sobriety, perhaps some 



