330 REPTILES AND BIRDS, 
This feature in its character has not a little contributed to the 
universal estimation the Stork is held in. 
The flesh of the Stork forms but indifferent food ; it is, therefore, 
inexplicable why persons calling themselves sportsmen persist in 
shooting at them. The reprehensible mania which the French 
Nimrods possess of indiscriminately massacring everything which 
shows itself within reach of their guns is a disgrace to those who 
practise it, and an.injury to the community at large. The result is 
that the Stork, meeting with nothing but ill-treatment in return for 
its loyal and useful services, 1s gradually retiring from France, and 
before long will have completely abandoned it. 
The Black Stork (Czconia nigra) is rather smaller than the White 
Stork (Czconta alba) ; it is a native of eastern Europe, and is rarely 
seen in France. It feeds almost exclusively on fish, which it catches 
with much skill. It is very shy; avoids the society of man; and 
builds its nest in trees. 
The Argala (Lep/opii/os), also called the Adjutant, is characterised 
by its very strong and large bill, and the bareness of its neck, the 
lower part of which is provided with a pouch somewhat resembling a 
large sausage. According to Temminck, there is a notable difference 
between the Marabou and the Argala, the characteristic mark of the 
latter frequently hanging down a foot, while it is much shorter in the 
Marabou. 
The Adjutant (Leptoptilos argala, Fig. 129) inhabits India ; they 
feed on reptiles and all kinds of filth, and this fact has been the 
means of securing for them the goodwill of the people. In the large 
cities of Hindostan they are as tame as dogs, and clear the streets of 
every kind of garbage which litters them. At meal-times they never 
fail drawing themselves up in line in front of the barracks, to eat the 
refuse thrown to them by the soldiers: their gluttony is so great that 
they will swailow enormous bones. At Calcutta and Chandernagore 
they are protected by law, which inflicts a fine of ten guineas on any 
one killing one of these birds. 
The long white feathers, celebrated for their delicacy and airi- 
ness, which are used in the adornment of ladies’ bonnets, and known 
in commerce by the name of marabou feathers, come from this bird 
and the African Marabou (Lep/optilos marabou). Consequently, in spite 
of their ugliness, a good many are reared in a domestic state in order 
that our European fair ones may obtain their favourite decoration. 
There are several other species which are allied to the Storks, and 
are only distinguished from them by a slightly different form of the 
bill. We will confine ourselves to merely naming the best known, and 
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