560 ARDEID^E. 



Like the White Stork, it frequently rests upon one leg ; 

 and if alarmed, particularly by the approach of a dog, it 

 makes a considerable noise by reiterated snapping of the 

 bill, similar to that species. It soon became docile, and 

 would follow its feeder for a favourite morsel, an eel. 

 When very hungry it crouches, resting the whole length of 

 the legs upon the ground, and supplicantly seems to solicit 

 food by nodding the head, flapping its unwieldy pinions, 

 and forcibly blowing the air from the lungs with audible 

 expirations. Whenever it is approached, the expulsion of 

 air, accompanied by repeated nodding of the head is pro- 

 voked. The bird is of a mild and peaceful disposition, 

 very unlike many of its congeners ; for it never makes use 

 of its formidable bill offensively against any of the com- 

 panions of its prison, and even submits peaceably to be 

 taken up without much struggle. From the manner in 

 which it is observed to search the grass with its bill, there 

 can be no doubt that reptiles form part of its natural food ; 

 even mice, worms, and the larger insects, probably add to 

 its usual repast. When searching in thick grass, or in the 

 mud, for its prey, the bill is kept partly open : by this 

 means I have observed it take eels in a pond with great 

 dexterity : no spear, in common use for taking that fish, 

 can more effectually receive it between its prongs than the 

 grasp of the Stork's open mandibles. A small eel has no 

 chance of escaping when once roused from its lurking place. 

 But the Stork does not gorge its prey instantly like the 

 Cormorant ; on the contrary, it retires to the margin of the 

 pool, and there disables its prey by shaking and beating 

 with its bill, before it ventures to swallow it. I never ob- 

 served this bird attempt to swim ; but it will wade up to 

 the belly, and occasionally thrust the whole head and neck 

 under water after its prey. It prefers an elevated spot on 



