MASON AND tEFROY. 283 



1549. Xenorhynchus asiaticus. Black-necked Stork. Various 

 water animals, fishes, and molluscs. Jerd. B. I. Ill, 734. Like 

 other Storks on fish, reptiles, frogs, crabs, molluscs, &c. F I 

 IV, 373. 



Leptoptilus. The Adjutants devour carrion of all kinds, as 

 well as fish, reptiles, Crustacea, &c., and serve the purpose of 

 scavengers in some of our large cities. Jerd. B. I. Ill, 729. 



1550. Leptoptilus dubius. Adjutant. In Calcutta and some 

 other large towns, the Adjutant is a familiar bird unscared by 

 the near approach of man or dog, and protected by law in some 

 cases. It is an efficient scavenger attending the neighbour- 

 hood of slaughter-houses and especially burning grounds of Hin- 

 doos, where the often half-burnt carcases are thrown into the rivers. 

 It is also diligently looks over the heaps of refuse and offal thrown 

 oib ii th.3 s breaks to await the arrival of scavengers carts, where 

 it nay ba sesri in company with dogs, kites and crows. It likes 

 fco vary its food, however, and may often be seen searching 

 ditches, pools of water and tanks for frogs and fish. In the 

 Deccan it soars with Vultures ready to descend on any carcase 

 that may be discovered. The Adjutant occasionally may seize a 

 crow or a mynah, or even as related a cat. Jerd. B. I. Ill, 731. 

 Adjutants as useful scavengers are in many places protected by 

 law. Their food, however, is not confined to carcases and offal, 

 thsy live also at times on fish, reptiles and frogs like other Storks^ 

 F. I. IV, 374. Adjutant is a Stork which has acquired the habits 

 of a Vulture. Forsaking to a large extent frogs and such like 

 cUlicitfias, which constitute the normal diet of its kind, it lives 

 chiefly oa offal. Dewar B. P., 29. Improved sanitary conditions 

 hive baaishsd both offal and Adjutants from the city. Imp 

 Gaz., I. 264. In the Daman a sort of field mouse (Drui), is often 

 very destructive to the crops, and multiplies exceedingly till 

 drowned out by the floods, or exterminated by the Adjutant and 

 Cranes. Punjab Gaz., Delhi. Dead cow. B. N. H. S. J. Russell, 

 viper. B. N. H. S. J. XVII, 501. Eating carrion with Vulture 8 



