NOTE -BOOK OF A NATUEALIST. 35 



expirations. WKenever it was approached, the blowing, 

 accompanied by repeated nodding of the head, was 

 provoked. It was of a mild and peaceful disposition, 

 very unlike many of its congeners; for it never used its 

 formidable bill offensively against any of its prisoned 

 companions, and even submitted peaceably to be taken 

 up without much struggle. From the manner in which 

 it was observed to search the grass with its bill, there 

 could be no doubt that reptiles form part of its natural 

 food; and the colonel inferred that even mice, worms, 

 and the larger insects probably, add to its usual repast. 

 When searching in thick grass, or in the mud, for its 

 prey, the bill was kept partly open. ' By this means,' 

 says the colonel, ' I have observed it take eels in a pond 

 with great dexterity : no spear in common use for taking 

 that fish can more effectually receive it between its 

 prongs than the grasp of the stork's open mandibles. A 

 small eel has no chance of escaping when once roused 

 from its lurking-place. But the stork does not gorge its 

 prey instantly like the cormorant; on the contrary, it 

 retires to the margin of the pool, and there disables its 

 prey by shaking and beating it with its bill before it 

 ventures to swallow it. I never observed this bird 

 attempt to swim; but it will wade up to the belly, and 

 occasionally thrust the whole head and neck under 

 water after its prey. It prefers an elevated spot on 

 which to repose; an old ivy-bound weeping willow, that 

 lies prostrate over the pond, is usually resorted to for 

 that purpose. In this quiescent state the neck is much 

 shortened by resting the hinder part of the head on the 

 back, and the bill rests on the fore-part of the neck, over 

 which the feathers flow partly so as to conceal it, making 

 a very singular appearance.' 



In this attitude the bird may be seen in the Zoological 

 Garden in the Regent's Park, where one has lived many 

 years, and has stood for his portrait to most of the 



