NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



from the chest downwards, white. Under wing coverts dusky- 

 brown. Iris brown. Bill coral-red. Naked skin round the 

 orbit and of the pouch also coral-red. Legs and feet same 

 colour. 



Lengthy 46.0 ; wing, 22.5 ; tail, 9.75. 



The female has less gloss to its feathers, and the naked 

 orbital skin is lead colour. The young bird is browner in 

 colour than the adult, and has next to no gloss. 



Distribution. — The black stork is found over a very wide 

 range, occurring as far east as Northern China. In winter, 

 however, it migrates to the southern parts of India and Africa. 

 It is everywhere a somewhat rare bird, but is found throughout 

 South Africa, with the exception of South-West Africa. 



Habits. — This stork is usually found solitary or in small 

 parties. It is frequently seen at the mouths of tidal rivers, 

 where it finds plenty of food, such as small fishes, crabs, and the 

 larger aquatic insects. It is a very wary bird, being far less 

 familiar than its cousin the white stork. It may often be met 

 with on the inland rivers, marshes, and ponds. The black 

 stork is a migratory bird, only spending the southern summer 

 in South Africa. It does not breed here. 



White Stork (Ciconia alba). (Vol. 11. , p. 268.) 



Description. — Male : above white. Wings, primary coverts, 

 primaries, secondaries, and scapulars black with greenish- 

 purple gloss. Below white. Iris brown. Bill dark red. 

 Pouch, anterior part black, posterior red. Skin around eye 

 black. Legs and feet deep pink. Claws black. 



Length.^ 46.0 ; wing, 24.0 ; tail, lo.o. 



Female resembles the male. 



The young bird has browner wings and not so much gloss. 



Distribution. — The white stork is found throughout 

 temperate Europe. It migrates to India and Africa during 

 the northern winter, and is then found in most parts of South 

 Africa, although more plentiful north of the Orange River. 



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