BLACK STORK 43 
BLACK STORK. Ciconia mgra (Linneus). 
Colowred Frgures.—Gould, ‘ Birds of Great Britain,’ vol. iv, pl. 
31; Dresser, ‘ Birds of Europe,’ vol. vi, pl. 406; Lilford, 
‘Coloured Figures,’ vol. vii, pl. 16. 
This very rare British visitor has been obtained between 
the months of May and November in the following coun- 
ties :—Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Kent, Middlesex, Oxford- 
shire, Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Yorkshire, Durham, and also 
in the Scilly Isles. 
The earliest record is that of a bird captured at West 
Sedgemoor, Somerset, on May 13th, 1814. ‘This specimen 
is preserved in the British Museum. The most recent 
capture appears to be that of an adult male from Northolt, 
Harrow, Middlesex, obtained on July 25th, 1893 (Harting, 
Handbook Brit. Birds, 1901, p. 439). From Scotland or 
Ireland there are no authentic records. 
DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERS. 
PLUMAGE. Adult male nuptial.—Black, with a play of 
colours shading from purple to lustrous metallic-green, 
except the lower breast and abdomen, which are white. 
Adult female nuptial.—Sunilar in plumage to the male. 
Adult winter, male and female.—Similar to the nuptial 
plumage. 
Immature, male and female.—Dull metallic-brown, the 
feathers being margined with impure white; breast and 
abdomen, white. 
Brak. Bright red. 
FEET. Red. 
Ir1DEs. Dark brown. 
Kees. Shell rough in texture; greyish-white in colour, 
lining membrane green, which is seen when the egg is held 
up to the light: clutch, four to five. 
AVERAGE MEASUREMENTS. 
TOTAL LENGTH ... a, mon teocae)) N 
WING aie ime ape pion 2b as 
BEAK 3 ae ae Sere yates? 
TARSO-METATARSUS br ase) SAD... 
Ea@e mee ane Ae, ee Po x 2m, 
