CARNIVOROUS BIRDS 55 



p. 178), of which the Common Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea] is 

 a good example. The spreading partly -webbed toes afford a 

 firm support to the body even on swampy ground, and the long 

 sharp beak can be brought rapidly into action by the straightening 

 of the long highly-mobile neck. As patient as a kingfisher, the 

 Heron is equally ready for prompt action at the critical moment. 

 The closely-related Stork Family includes birds of much the 

 same build, but with somewhat different habits. The White 

 Stork (Ciconia alba] hunts frogs and other small animals in 

 swampy ground, walking around in a dignified manner and not 

 waiting like a heron for prey to pass by. Numbers of the 

 American Wood- Stork ( Tantalus loculator) co-operate to perform 

 a sort of feeding drill, in which numbers of them tramp about in 

 shallow water, where the bottom is muddy, till it is thoroughly 

 stirred up, the numerous small fish, reptiles, &c., disclosed by the 

 process being promptly bagged. 



