THE WHITE-NECKED STORK. 265 



The Black-necked Stork is generally distributed over Pegu; and Mr. 

 Blyth states that it is found in Arrakan and Tenasserim ; but in the 

 latter Division Mr. Davison observed it only at Pahpoon. 



It is found over the whole peninsula of India and Ceylon, and probably 

 in all the Indo-Burmese countries. It ranges down the Malay peninsula, 

 through the islands to Australia, and extends eastwards to Cochin China. 



This handsome Stork is a resident, and is met with singly or in pairs in 

 swampy plains and marshes. I found its nest in Southern Pegu in 

 December and January, a structure of sticks placed in large trees. The 

 eggs, four in number, are white with a green lining. 



Genus DISSURA* 



629. DISSURA EPISCOPUS. 

 THE WHITE-NECKED STORK. 



Ardea episcopus, Bodd. Tall. PL EnL p. 54. Ardea leucocephala, Gm. Syst. 

 Nat. i. p. 642. Ciconia leucocephala, Jerd. B. Ind. ii. p. 737. Melano- 

 pelargus episcopus, Hume Sf Renders. Ldh. to Yark. p. 295 ; Hume, Nests and 

 Eggs, p. 609 ; Salmd. Ucc. Born. p. 356 ; Hume, S. F. iii. p. 189 ; Hume $ Dav. 

 S. F. vi. p. 469. Ciconia episcopus, Bl. B. Burm. p. 158 ; Wardlaw Ramsay, 

 Ibis, 1877, p. 470. Dissura episcopa, Hume, S. F. viii. p. 114 j Rainey, S. F. 

 viii. p. 417 ; Scully, S. F. viii. p. 359 ; Legge, Birds Ceylon, p. 1119 ; Oates, 

 S. F. x. p. 243. 



Description. Male and female. Crown, nape and sides of the nape 

 black ; neck, tail, vent and under tail-coverts white ; remainder of plumage 

 black, beautifully glossed with reddish purple on the lower neck, breast, 

 abdomen, upper back and lesser wing-coverts. 



Iris crimson ; eyelids and facial skin plumbeous ; bill in general black, 

 tinged with red on the culmen, the tips and the margins ; legs and toes 

 red ; claws reddish horn-colour. 



Length 36 inches, tail 8, wing 20' 5, tarsus 7, bill from gape 6'8. The 

 female is of the same size. 



The White-necked Stork is distributed over the whole Province in 

 suitable localities, and is a constant resident. It is met with over the 

 greater part of India and Ceylon, the Indo-Burmese countries, Cochin 

 China, the Malay peninsula, Sumatra, Java; Borneo and Celebes. 



This beautifully coloured Stork is tolerably abundant in the plains, being 



* I cannot discover who is the author of this name. It appears to have been first used 

 by Mr. Hume (/. c.). 



