THE BLACK STOKK. lOT 



Adult Female. — Similar to the male, but not quite so glossy ; 

 "bill and feet red, the former lighter at the tip; orbital skin 

 lead-colour " (/. Scully). Total length, about 36 inches ; cul- 

 men, 7-0; wing, 21-0; tail, 8-5; tarsus, 7-6. 



Young Birds. — Browner than the adults, with very little green 

 or purplish reflections ; the head and neck paler brown, with 

 whitish spots at the ends of the feathers, the feathers of the 

 chest also margined with whity-brown. 



Range in Great Britain. — About thirteen records exist of the 

 occurrence of the Black Stork within our limits. They are 

 all from England, from the southern and eastern counties. 



Range outside the British Islands. — The Black Stork breeds 

 throughout the greater part of Europe. In Scandinavia it 

 nests sparingly in Southern Sweden, being only known as a 

 straggler to Norway. In the Mediterranean countries, with 

 ^he exception of Spain, it is chiefly known as a migrant. It 

 nests also in Palestine and Central Asia to Mongolia and 

 Northern China, and visits the Indian Peninsula in winter, at 

 which season it is also found in Africa, even down to the Cape 

 Colony, where, however, it is not known to breed. 



Habits. — Instead of being a friendly bird, like the White 

 Stork, and frequenting the homes of man, the present species 

 seeks the shelter of the forests. Mr. Seebohm says : — "It is 

 not at all gregarious, except on migration, and is very silent, its 

 ' klapper ' being rarely heard. From all these circumstances 

 we may infer that the Black Stork is a much more cautious bird 

 than the White Stork, though its extreme caution does not 

 appear to have been of much advantage to it, as it is, on the 

 whole, a much rarer bird than its bolder relative." If one 

 might judge from the habits of the Black Stork in confinement, 

 its love of solitude may be induced by its contemplative nature, 

 for I remember, a few years ago, when I visited the Zoological 

 Gardens in Rotterdam, seeing a Black Stork perched on its 

 nest, standing on one leg, with ils beak buried in its breast, 

 and absolutely immovable. Returning two hours later, the 

 bird was still there, like a statue, and utterly regardless of the 

 busy movements of the other Herons which were flying about 

 in the big aviary, of which one of the most curious features is 



