96 CICONIIFORMES 



CHAP. 



developed. The short tail is normally even or slightly rounded, with 

 twelve broad feathers, but in Dissura it is deeply forked ^ and rigid, 

 while the unusually stift' coverts extending from beneath are easily 

 mistaken for rectrices. In Leptoptilus these elongated coverts are 

 soft, and are the genuine " Marabou feathers." The furcula is 

 U-shaped, the tongue rudimentary, the aftershaft present or absent, 

 and there are no powder-down patches; the trachea in the male of 

 Tantalus this has several intrathoracic convolutions," while there is 

 an entire want of syringeal muscles. The adults and young possess 

 uniform down, that of the nestlings being greyish or whitish. 



Storks, though easily tamed, are naturally shy, solitary birds, 

 which frequent wooded or open country on plains or hills, usually 

 near inland waters, creeks, or salt-water lagoons ; the White Stork 

 and the Adjutant are, however, instances of somewhat different 

 habits, the former showing a predilection for homesteads, and the 

 latter being protected as a scavenger in some parts of India ; 

 while Ciconia ahdimii is considered a " bird of blessing " by the 

 natives of Africa. Flocks are occasionally seen. The flight is 

 graceful and noiseless, but powerful and rapid, the neck and legs 

 being carried in line with the body, and immense heights being 

 often attained by soaring and circling movements. No difticulty 

 is experienced in walking, and many species stalk solemnly about 

 in pursuit of prey, whether in water or on dry land ; not un- 

 commonly they rest with the whole metatarsus upon the ground, 

 or stand on one foot with the bill touching the breast. They 

 are ordinarily quiescent during the heat of the day, and at night 

 frequently roost in trees. Mycteria senegalensis and M. indica are 

 said to dance around their mates, the former skipping and bowing, 

 and the latter fluttering its extended wings, which touch those of 

 its partner, while advancing the head and making a clatter with the 

 bill.^ Generally speaking, this is the only noise Storks produce, 

 owing to the want of voice-muscles ; but Adjutants are said to utter 

 a loud grunting croak or bellow, and the young of Ciconia nigra 

 to give vent to a guttm-al cry. The food consists of fish, reptiles, 

 amphibians, crustaceans, molluscs, grasshoppers, and beetles, with 

 small mammals, or even eggs and young of birds ; but Leptoptilus 

 is nearly omnivorous and enjoys carrion, including human carcases, 



1 Ridgway, Bull. U.S. Geol. Surv. iv. Art. ix. 1878, pi^. 249-251. 



2 Garrod, P. Z. S. 1857, p. 297. 



^ Layard, ed. Sh.a,vi)e, Bi7rls of South Africa, 1875-84, p. 732, and Hume, ed. 

 Gates, Nests and Hgffs of Indian Birds, iii. 1890, p. 266. 



