(. 208°.) 
TRIBE CULTRIROSTRES. 
Famity CICONIDAL 
This group takes in the Storks, Herons and Ibises, which go to 
make up a typical class of birds, with thick, stout, pointed bills, 
elongated tarsus ; tail short ; wings strong. These birds introduce 
up to the second of the two main divisions, Gallatores, were, naturally 
(by nature) divided into. This latter group, the young are born 
helpless and callow. They are dependent upon the parental care 
and attention, till able to leave their nests. A state, different to 
Game-birds, and the group we have been just considering. These 
birds when full grown acquire a rather, stately walk and hearing. 
Perhaps, their careful bringing up, and home surroundings, have 
made them a bit exclusive and “uppish”! who knows. It is 
certainly not mummie’s fault if they turn out “harum scarums.” 
Their long legs, however, generally appear, ungainly, and give the 
bigger members of this tribe of Cultrirostres a look as if they were 
preparing to kick the first prospective enemy or adversary, or bore a 
grudge against all two legged beings. As might be expected, these 
birds are equally at home on the ground or wading in the water. 
Stork’s bill is large in size, stout and thick ; Heron, on the other 
hand, has a slender and pointed bill ; Ibis, more a curved bill. The 
first two birds differ a good deal from each other. the former in size 
and form, the two inner toes being webbed. Storks are well adapted 
to stand on one leg, an accomplishment found, though perhaps not 
so noticeable, in most birds. To rest or sleep on one leg, is an 
attainment, we poor mortals cannot indulge in, we find it no easy 
matter to sleep on the bough of a tree, without getting a sudden 
shock to the whole nervous system, by pitching forward in a most 
unenviable manner. 
(915) LEPTOPTILUS ARGALA, Gigantic Stork, or Adjutant as it is 
sometimes called, can easily be made out from herons by their large 
awkward forms and stout bills, also from the practice it has, of 
resting, chiefly, on one leg. This Giant Stork is fully 60 inches, 
5 feet in length, and could be Goliath of the Indian birds, though 
this particular honor has been conferred on the big Heron (921) 
who is doubtlessly a giant among Herons, though he scarcely comes 
up to 60 inches in length. Gigantic Stork may be seen, feeding or 
reclining on the bank of the Runjeet river. It possess a noticeable 
pouch on the foreneck, which hangs some 16 inches down, which is 
an accessory to the respiratory system. Bill is large, stout, thick 
and long ; wings long 3rd and 4th quills the longest ; tail short ; 
tarsus protected by thickish scales, feet with narrow web: claws 
