BLACK STORK. 495 



When first the Black Stork was observed, it was searching 

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

 considerable distance ; but in a second attempt, the fowler 

 got sufficiently near to wound it slightly. It made little 

 resistance, and on the following day ate some eels that had 

 been placed near it. 



The habits of Colonel Montagu's bird in confinement are 

 thus related in the communication to the Linnean Society 

 that has already been referred to. 



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 solicit food by nodding 

 the head, flapping its unwieldy pinions, and forcibly blowing 

 the air from the lungs with audible expirations. Whenever 

 it is approached, the expulsion of air, accompanied by re- 

 peated 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 offen- 

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

 submits peaceably to be taken up without much struggle. 

 From the manner in which it is observed to search the grass 

 with its bill, there can be no doubt that reptiles form part of 

 its natural food ; 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 is kept partly 

 open : by this means I have observed it take eels in a 

 pond with great dexterity : no spear, in common use for 

 taking that fish, can more eflectually 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 



