LEPTOPTILUS 47 



Natal Escourt in 1894 (Durban Museum) ; Transvaal near Pre- 

 toria, Mallabas on the Limpopo River and Rooi-rand, June (W. 

 Ayres), Lydenburg district, not uncommon (Kirby) ; Bechuanaland 

 Lake Ngami, resident (Andersson), in June (Fleck) ; Rhodesia 

 Chobe swamps (Holub), Umfuli River, October (Ayres) : German 

 South-west Africa Ondonga and Damaraland, plentiful in the 

 rains (Andersson). 



FIG. 14. Head of Leptoptilus crumeniferus. 



Habits. The Marabou, which is closely allied to the well-known 

 Adjutant of India, is a Stork which has adopted, to a large extent, 

 the habits of a Vulture. It appears where carrion is to be found, 

 and shares with the Vultures and Ravens in their loathsome meal. 

 It generally alights on a tree on its arrival on the scene, and is 

 powerful enough to hold its own with its competitors, chiefly owing 

 to its strong, sharp-pointed beak. It does not rely, however, 

 entirely on these sources for its food, but devours fishes, crabs 

 and insects of various kinds as well. The curious pouch in front 

 of the neck has nothing to do with the crop or digestive apparatus 

 of the bird, but is connected with the air-sac and lungs; it can be 

 inflated at the will of the bird, and often reaches a considerable size. 



The Marabou is a rare bird everywhere in South Africa, and in 

 consequence its habits and curious attitudes and ways are not 

 familiar to the inhabitants as are those of the Adjutant in India; 



