EXTRAORDINARY TRAVELLERS. 237 



gifted this bird with the most attractive plumage, the 

 chin and the inside of the ears being vermilion red, the 

 front of the head light flesh-colour, and the remainder 

 bluish-purple ; the legs are green, changing to ver- 

 milion at the joints, with toes dusky on the upper and 

 lower sides. The iris is grayish-brown, with a streak 

 above the eyes extending half-way to the setting on 

 of the bill, a minute spot on the lower eyelid termi- 

 nating my description. 



The whole flock appeared to be exhausted from 

 excessive travel, for, soon after they had reached 

 the ground, each member seemed to court repose. 

 It was a shame to disturb them, nay, almost a crime to> 

 do so. Yet when will man deny himself what he 

 longs for, even when it be at the expense of the 

 happiness of others, whether they be equals or in- 

 feriors in his arbitrary scale of rank in the animal 

 world ; so I fired two shots into the storks, each of 

 which produced a victim, when the remainder sailed 

 off into the gloaming in search of another and 

 more peaceful resting-place. 



From Manchuria to the Red Sea, and from the 

 Red Sea to South Africa, probably this flight of 

 birds has travelled, and yet, although they have 



