WHALE-HEADED STORK. Balriniceps Hex. 



and young, but the young birds so taken have invariably died. After repeated unsuccess- 

 ful attempts to rear them, continued for two years, the eggs were eventually hatched under 

 hens, which were procured at a considerable distance from the Kaik negroes. 



As soon as the hens began to lay, and in due time to sit, a part of their eggs were 

 replaced with half the number of those of the Baloeniceps, as fresh as possible from the 

 nest, the locality of which was previously known, and several birds were successfully 

 hatched. These young birds ran about the premises of the camp, and, to the great discom- 

 fort of the hens, would persist in performing all sorts of unchickenable manoeuvres, with 

 their large beaks and extended wings, in a small artificial pool constantly supplied with 

 water by several negresses retained for their especial benefit. Negro boys were also 

 employed to supply their little pond with live fish, upon which, and occasionally the 

 intestines of animals killed for our use, chopped into small pieces, they were reared." 



The chief point in this fine bird is the huge bill, which, from its resemblance in size 

 and shape to a shoe, has gained for its owner the title of Shoe-bird. It is enormously 

 expanded at each side of the beak, the edges of the upper mandible overhang those of the 

 lower, and its tip is furnished with a large hook, curved and sharp as that of an eagle, and 

 well suited for tearing to pieces the substances on which the bird feeds. Its colour is 

 brown, mottled profusely with a deep mahogany tinge. The general colour of the plumage 

 is dark slaty grey above, each feather being edged with a narrow band of greyish white. 

 The feathers of the front of the neck are pointed, very dark in the centre, and broadly 

 edged with grey. The under surface is grey. In the British Museum a skeleton of this 

 bird is placed near the stuffed specimen, and gives an excellent idea of the singular 

 formation of the beak and head. 



