364 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 



be supposed from the general nature of its food, 

 swamps and morasses are its favourite localities, and 

 of these it seems to seek the wildest and most un- 

 frequented, never, like the White Stork, coming 

 voluntarily into the neighbourhood of man. 



The nest is said to be placed on very high trees, 

 especially pines. 



As appears from the letters I have quoted from 

 Mr. Newman's edition of Montagu's * Dictionary,' 

 the Black Stork goes through various changes of 

 plumage : that of the adult bird is as follows : 

 " The beak and the naked skin around the eye are 

 red, tinged with orange ; the irides reddish brown ; 

 the head, neck all round, upper surface of the body, 

 wings and wing-coverts are glossy black, varied with 

 blue, purple, copper-coloured and green reflections ; 

 the primary quill-feathers and tail are black; the 

 whole of the under surface of the body, from the 

 bottom of the neck to the ends of the tail- coverts, 

 white ; legs and toes orange-red ; claws black." 

 This description is taken from Yarrell, who de- 

 scribed from a live specimen in the Zoological 

 Gardens, which often stood for its portrait, Bennett, 

 Selby, Gould and Meyer all having drawn from it. 



The eggs are said to be of a buffy white. 



SPOONBILL, Platalea leucorodia. A specimen of 

 this very peculiar-looking bird was shot by the same 

 person who shot the Black Stork just mentioned, at 

 the same place, namely, West Sedge Moor, near 



