52 ANIMAL LIFE IN AFRICA 



snow-white, downy feathers on its under tail covers. 



It is common all over tropical Africa, but is much less 

 frequently met with south of the Zambezi. In parts 

 of east Africa, I have seen large flocks feeding about 

 much like white storks, and they will eat insects, fish, 

 and any small mammals or birds that are too young to 

 escape them. They are generally among the first to 

 arrive at kills, and may be seen sitting around on the trees 

 mixed up with the vultures, with which they can more 

 than hold their own. In the ponds in the Transvaal 

 Zoological Gardens, they appear to tyrannize absolutely 

 over the herons and other large water birds, which often 

 display considerable fear of them as they stalk solemnly 

 round making occasional vicious prods at any not quick 

 enough in clearing a path. 



THE SADDLE BILL. This very large stork is rather 

 rare in south Africa, but I have once or twice noticed 

 pairs on the Sabi, about February, stalking about in the 

 shallows and on sand-banks. One old gentleman used 

 to come regularly to a certain pool every morning about 

 seven, and remain till twelve. During the whole of the 

 five hours, with only occasional short rests, he quartered 

 the whole shallow extent of muddy water systematically, 

 dabbing his bill in at every step. As he only caught 

 a small frog or some such creature about once in twenty 

 minutes, he had to work hard for his livelihood. Now 

 and then a female joined him, but she was much less 

 patient and would fly away after an hour or two. The 

 fore part of the Saddle Bill's beak is crimson, the centre 

 black, and the saddle or shield which comes just above 

 the nostrils bright yellow. 



THE WHITE-BELLIED STORK. This is an African bird, 

 though it only visits the south during the warm summer 

 months. 



