STORK. GRALLATORES. CICONIA. 49 



of remote and extensive forests, where it builds on the tops 

 of the highest pines, or other trees, forming a considerable 

 nest of sticks, in which it deposits two or three large green- Nest, &c. 

 ish-white eggs, which (according to TEMMINCK and WAG- 

 LEE) are sometimes marked with indistinct dusky spots. 

 It feeds upon fish, reptiles, insects, small mammalia, &c. Food. 

 When caught, it is easily domesticated, and soon becomes 

 very tame ; nor does it, like the White Stork, seem to make 

 such pugnacious use of the bill as 'characterises many other 

 groups of the Ardeada, even submitting to be taken up and 

 handled, without displaying anger. A beautiful specimen of 

 this bird is now to be seen in the Gardens of the Zoological v 

 Society ; and I have remarked, that in its quiescent state, it 

 assumes exactly the attitude described by MONTAGU, viz. 

 standing on one leg, with the neck much shortened, and the 

 hinder part of the head resting between the shoulders, whilst 

 the bill is supported by the forepart of the neck, and nearly 

 hidden under its loose projecting feathers. 



PLATE 11. * Represents the bird in about half the natural 



size. 



The head, neck, the whole of the upper parts of the body, General 

 the wings and tail, are black, glossed with tints of the d . escri P- 

 richest purple and green, varying according to the light 

 in which the bird is viewed ; the under parts are pure 

 white. The bill, the naked orbits of the eyes, the gular 

 pouch, and the legs, are red. 



In the young state, the head and neck are brown, speckled 

 with deeper shades. The back and upper parts are 

 brownish-black, with paler margins to the feathers, and 

 slightly glossed with green. The bill is dusky red, 

 brighter towards the tip ; the orbits are the same. The 

 legs and toes are orange-brown. 



VOL. IT. D 



