33O REPTILES AXD BIRDS. 



This feature in its character has not a little contributed to the 

 universal estimation the Stork is held in. 



The flesh of the Stork forms but indifferent food ; it is, therefore, 

 inexplicable why persons calling themselves sportsmen persist in 

 shooting at them. The reprehensible mania which the French 

 Nimrods possess of indiscriminately massacring everything which 

 shows itself within reach of their guns is a disgrace to those who 

 practise it, and an injury to the community at large. The result is 

 that the Stork, meeting with nothing but ill-treatment in return for 

 its loyal and useful services, is gradually retiring from France, and 

 before long will have completely abandoned it. 



The Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) is rather smaller than the White 

 Stork ( Ciconia alba) ; it is a native of eastern Europe, and is rarely 

 seen in France. It feeds almost exclusively on fish, which it catches 

 with much skill. It is very shy ; avoids the society of man ; and 

 builds its nest in trees. 



The Argala (Leptoptilos}, also called the Adjutant, is characterised 

 by its very strong and large bill, and the bareness of its neck, the 

 lower part of which is provided with a pouch somewhat resembling a 

 large sausage. According to Temminck, there is a notable difference 

 between the Marabou and the Argala, the characteristic mark of the 

 latter frequently hanging down a foot, while it is much shorter in the 

 Marabou. 



The Adjutant (Leptoptilos argala, Fig. 129) inhabits India; they 

 feed on reptiles and all kinds of filth, and this fact has been the 

 means of securing for them the goodwill of the people. In the large 

 cities of Hindostan they are as tame as dogs, and clear the streets of 

 every kind of garbage which litters them. At meal-times they never 

 fail drawing themselves up in line in front of the barracks, to eat the 

 refuse thrown to them by the soldiers : their gluttony is so great that 

 they will swallow enormous bones. At Calcutta and Chandernagore 

 they are protected by law, which inflicts a fine of ten guineas on any 

 one killing one of these birds. 



The long white feathers, celebrated for their delicacy and airi- 

 ness, which are used in the adornment of ladies' bonnets, and known 

 in commerce by the name of marabou feathers, come from this bird 

 and the African Marabou (Leptoptilos maraboii}. Consequently, in spite 

 of their ugliness, a good many are reared in a domestic state in order 

 that our European fair ones may obtain their favourite decoration. 



There are several other species which are allied to the Storks, and 

 are only distinguished from them by a slightly different form of the 

 bill. We will confine ourselves to merely naming the best known, and 



