28 ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 



near the mouths of rivers, building in preference upon 

 the taller trees, but where these are wanting taking up 

 their abode among the bushes or even among the reeds. 

 The females usually lay three or four whitish eggs. 

 They associate together, but not in any considerable 

 numbers, and feed upon the smaller fishes and their 

 spawn, shell-fish, reptiles, and other aquatic or amphi- 

 bious animals. The form and flexibility of their bills 

 are well adapted for burrowing in the mud after their 

 prey ; and the tubercles which are placed on the inside 

 of their mandibles serve both to retain the more slip- 

 pery animals and to break down their shelly coverings. 

 Their internal conformation, which is in nearly every 

 respect similar to that of the Storks, is admirably 

 suited to this kind of food. They have no proper 

 voice, the lower larynx being destitute of the muscles 

 by which sounds are produced, and their only means 

 of vocal expression consist in the snapping of their 

 mandibles, which they clatter with much precipitation 

 when under the influence of anger or alarm. In cap- 

 tivity they are perfectly tame, living in peace and 

 concord with the other inhabitants of the farm-yard, 

 and rarely exhibiting any symptoms of wildness or 

 desire of change. In common with the neighbouring 

 groups they feed on all kinds of garbage. 



