156 THE WOBLD'S BIRDS. 



and tippet, variable in colour, assumed at the 

 breeding-season, and for his pugnacity at that 

 time ; it is the only polygamous bird in the 

 family. 



STORKS (Ciconiida) . 



DIAGNOSIS. Large, tall wading-birds , with long stout 

 bill ; all front toes webbed at base, and well-developed 

 hind-toe. 



SIZE. Always large, from nearly three feet high to 

 nearly five. 



FORM. Bill long, stout, straight, or curved at tip 

 (only in the Tantalus group), corner of mouth 

 reaching half-way to eye, nostrils basal ; legs bare 

 above hock, shanks long, three front toes webbed 

 at base, hind-toe well developed ; claws usually 

 short and blunt ; wings large, broad ; tail short. 

 Neck long. 



PLUMAGE AND COLOURATION. Feathering close, co- 

 loured black, white and grey, the black usually 

 with metallic gloss ; some species (e.g., Adjutant) 

 are powdery. Space between bill and eyes always 

 bare, in some the whole head and neck. Under 

 tail-coverts sometimes very strong and stiff, some- 

 times downy. Sexes alike ; seldom a seasonal 

 change, but young usually different from adults, 

 being brown in many cases. 



YOUNG. Helpless and clothed in short down. 



NEST. An open platform of sticks, usually placed on 

 trees or rocks. 



EGGS. Several ; white. 



INCUBATION. About a month. 



COURTSHIP. In the White Stork the male lays his 

 head on his back and erects his tail, clattering his 

 bill ; the Marabout (Leptoptilus crumeniferus) ex- 

 pands his downy under tail-coverts. 



