228 cicoNiiD^. 



bohm describes two similar nests, situated respectively on an 

 old oak and a Scotch fir. Mr. W. H. Hudleston in Bulgaria, 

 Messrs. Elwes and Buckley in Turkey, the Editor in Spain, 

 and others, have also found this species nesting in clefts and 

 on ledges of clifi"s. The eggs are usually four in number ; 

 coarse in texture ; of a dull greyish-white colour, similar to 

 that of the egg of a Goshawk ; and when the shell is held 

 up to the light, the lining membrane shows green, whereas 

 it is yellowish in the egg of the White Stork ; the average 

 dimensions of the egg also are smaller, being about 2*6 by 

 2 in. The male stands by the female while she is sitting, 

 and both birds show comparatively little fear of visitors to 

 their haunts. Incubation commences in April, and Mr. See- 

 bohm found young just hatched on the 19th May. As a 

 rule the Black Stork arrives at its breeding-stations rather 

 earlier than its congener, leaving later in the autumn ; in 

 fact, it has once been obtained in Sweden in winter. 



The habits of Montagu's bird in confinement are thus 

 related in the communication to the Linnean Society that 

 has already been referred to : — 



" Like the White Stork, it frequently rests upon one leg ; 

 and if alarmed, particularly by the approach of a dog, it 

 makes a considerable noise by reiterated snapping of the 

 bill, similar to that species. It soon became docile, and 

 would follow its feeder for a favourite morsel — an eel. 

 When very hungry it crouches, resting the whole length of 

 the legs upon the ground, and supplicantly seems to solicit 

 food by nodding the head, flapping its unwieldy pinions, 

 and forcibly blowing the air from the lungs with audible 

 expirations. Whenever it is approached, the expulsion of 

 air, accompanied by repeated nodding of the head, is pro- 

 voked. The bird is of a mild and peaceful disposition, 

 very unlike many of its congeners ; for it never makes use 

 of its formidable bill off'ensively against any of the com- 

 panions of its prison, and even submits peaceably to be 

 taken up without much struggle. From the manner in 

 which it is observed to search the grass with its bill, there 

 can be no doubt that reptiles form part of its natural food ; 



