20 Mr. Montagu's Remai'lcs on 



This bird was captured by means of a slight shot-wound in the 

 wing, without breaking a bone, and is now in my possession in 

 excellent health. To my scientific friend, Mr. Austin of Bridge- 

 water, naturalists in general, and myself in particular, are indebted 

 for this addition to the British Fauna, he having rescued it from 

 plebeian hands, where in all probability the circumstance would 

 have been consigned to oblivion. It was shot in West Sedge- 

 moor, adjoining the parish of Stoke St. Gregory, Somersetshire, 

 on the 13th of May 1814; and what is remarkable, another very 

 rare bird, the "White Spoonbill, was shot on the same moor, by 

 the same person, in November of the preceding year. 



When first the Black Stork was observed, it was searching for 

 food by the side of a drain, and when approached flew a consi- 

 derable distance; but in a second attempt the fowler got suffi- 

 ciently near to slightly wound it. It made little resistance, and 

 on the following day ate some eels that had been placed near it. 



I was greatly rejoiced to receive this interesting bird alive from 

 Mr. Austin, as its manners do not seem to be much known. 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 

 demand food, by nodding the head, flapping its unwieldy pinions, 

 and forcibly blowing the air from the lungs with audible exspira- 

 tions. Whenever it is approached, the expulsion of air accom- 

 panied by repeated nodding of the head is provoked. The bird 

 is of a mild and peaceful disposition, very unlike many of its con- 

 geners; for it never makes use of its formidable bill oti'ensively 

 against any of the companions of its prison, and even submits 



peaceably 



