STORKS 235 



birds were exposed. A favourite and most effective 

 one was to take a long piece of stout string and, 

 after having fastened a tempting gobbet to either 

 end of it, throw it out into a group of expectant 

 adjutants. Two of the birds were almost sure 

 to secure the double bait, and thereafter spend 

 much time in attempts to dissolve the resultant 

 partnership, flying round and round and tugging 

 at the string in a way that must have been 

 somewhat disturbing even to their case-hardened 

 stomachs, and which gave their flight a strangely 

 disorderly and tumultuous character. More lasting 

 amusement was provided when one of the baits 

 was replaced by a small paper kite, so that when 

 the bird who had swallowed the lure took wing, 

 he was sorely puzzled by the way in which his 

 progress was disturbed by the dragging of his 

 novel appendage. 



At the hour at which the daily dole of food 

 was due, large numbers of adjutants would assemble 

 and loaf around in expectation of it. They were 

 naturally attended by a throng of crows, who, while 

 exercising a judicious caution in their advances, 

 often managed to secure a fair share of the feast, 

 for, owing to their numbers and to the craftiness 

 with which they seized any favourable chance of 

 snatching a morsel, their efforts were usually 

 scatheless and crowned with encouraging success. 

 Only once did I see a crow come to serious grief 



