Colour development in the Indian Wood-stork. 141


slowly replaced by black feathers, with a narrow edge of white.

The perfection of plumage was reached in May, when the whole of

the shoulder was a wavy pattern of brilliantly contrasted broad black

and narrow white, and the bird in flight showed the same beautiful

coloration on the chest and beneath the wings.


The beak changes slowly, first thickening and afterwards

taking a pronounced downward curve, which continues to develop

long after the plumage-change is completed: its colour changes

meanwhile to a deep shiny wax-like yellow. During this time the

skin of the head, which can be drawn back an inch or more, also

continues to develop until the forehead and cheeks are a deep yellow-

umber, and the hinder part of the head becomes a rich purple.


The legs are now (1914) showing signs of a remarkable

alteration ; for five years they were grey with a slight tinge of pink

on the toes. The upper half of the tarsus is now a deep magenta-red.



EASTERN RAVENS.


By Ethel M. Jones.


Far away on the borders of Nepal and India runs a certain

ridge, covered with a belt of ancient forest, the trees of which are

tall and straight with no undergrowth, but instead a carpet of moss

and beautiful ferns growing in profusion under the shade of those

mighty giants.


This particular spot, some 7,000 feet above the level of the

sea, among mountain ranges overlooking the plains of Northern

Bengal, was selected by some Ravens (Corvus macrorhynchus) for

their home ; for far away from the haunts of men their nests would

surely be safe. For building there was plenty of material at hand,

and soon the nests of twigs and sticks were comfortably lined with

moss and wild cotton growing beyond the tiny stream which formed

the botmdary dividing British from Nepalese territory.


The patience of the old birds was rewarded at last, and each

nest held some four or five youngsters, who awoke to find a world—



