124 BLACK STOEK. 



tree at night, and a solitary bird will perch on one in the 

 day-time when not engaged in search of food. They walk 

 about in a sedate, slow, and cautious manner. 'When about 

 to take wing, the Black Stork takes one or two short leaps; 

 and when alighting it skims a short distance before touching 

 the ground, and places its wing feathers in order before it 

 moves on further.' 



It makes a clattering sound by snapping the mandibles 

 together. 



It builds its nest, which is rather large, on the summit 

 of the loftiest pine and other trees. The foundation of sticks 

 is solidified by the addition of sods, the whole being finished 

 with smaller twigs, rushes, feathers, hair, and all sorts of 

 suitable lining. 



The eggs, two or three or four, or even five in number, 

 are of a buff white colour, faintly tinged with blue. 



Male; length, three feet six inches; bill, red with a tinge 

 of orange; iris, reddish brown, a bare space of the same 

 colour surrounds it. Head, crown, neck, nape, chin, and throat, 

 glossy black, with blue, green, and copper-coloured reflections. 

 Breast, white; back, glossy black, bronzed with reflections of 

 blue, green, and copper-colour, varying according to the 

 light in which the bird is viewed. The greater and lesser 

 wing coverts likewise exhibit a resplendence of glossy black, 

 blue, green, and copper-colour reflected, the green shewing 

 on the margin of the feathers; primaries, black. Tail, black; 

 under tail coverts, white. Legs and toes, orange red; claws, 

 black. 



In very young birds the bill is dull green; the bare space 

 round the eyes is olive green. The head, crown, and neck, 

 reddish brown. The legs, olive green. 



In the young in a stage advanced towards maturity, 'mutatis 

 mutandis,' the bill is dusky red orange, brighter towards the 

 tip. The iris is hazel; orbits, bright orange. The head, 

 crown, nec^, and nape, are described as being black or dusky 

 brown, with purple reflections. Breast, white; back, brownish 

 black, with paler margins to the feathers, and slightly glossed 

 with green. Legs and toes, orange brown. 



