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Birds. 



THE ADJUTANT, (Leptoptilus argala,} 



ALSO called the Gigantic Crane, is a bird of the stork 

 kind, and a native of India, and other warm countries. 

 The head and neck are bare of feathers, as in the ostrich ; 

 the former looking as if made of wood ; the latter of a 

 flesh-colour. The coverts of the wings and the back 

 are black, with a bluish cast; the under part of the 

 body whitish ; the legs are long, without feathers, and 

 of a greyish hue, as are the thighs, which seem to be as 

 slender as the leg. The bill is of enormous size, and 

 the bird is fond of clatting the two mandibles together. 

 Under the chin, there is a kind of bag or pouch which 

 hangs down in front of the neck, like the dewlap of a 

 cow ; in this the Adjutant stores away any provisions 

 that may fall in his way, after his immediate wants are 

 satisfied. He is a most voracious bird, and devours 

 every kind of food, and as he has no objection to carrion, 



