24 ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 



marked on the back and wings. Those of the whole 

 under surface from the bottom of the neck to the base 

 of the tail are white. The tail itself is black. The 

 wings are extremely long, and so powerful as to raise 

 the bird, m its flights and migrations, to such a height 

 in the air as to be almost invisible to human eye. 



Like the foregoing species, the Black Stork is a 

 migratory bird, seeking the more southern parts of 

 Europe during the inclemency of the winter. In the 

 spring it advances to a much higher latitude than the 

 White, visiting even Russia and Siberia, and passing- 

 over Sweden towards the north in considerable num- 

 bers. But it seldom comes so far westward as the 

 other, being almost unknown in Holland, although 

 common in the eastern departments of France and 

 throughout the whole of Germany. A solitary instance 

 of its occurrence in Great Britain fell under the notice 

 of the late Colonel Montagu, and forms the subject of 

 an interesting paper in the twelfth volume of the Lin- 

 nean Transactions. 



The character of the Black Stork is in one respect 

 diametrically opposed to that of the White. Instead 

 of domesticating itself as it were with man, it shuns 

 his society, and makes its temporary dwelling in the 

 most secluded spots, frequenting impenetrable morasses 

 or the banks of such rivers and lakes as are seldom 

 disturbed by the presence of intruders, and building its 

 nest on the summits of the loftiest pines. Its food is 

 exactly similar to that of its more social fellow ; and 

 their manners, except in this peculiar sullenness on 

 the part of the Black Stork, closely correspond. It 

 submits itself with perfect resignation to captivity, 

 never using its powerful bill as a weapon of ofi'ence 

 against its companions. It appears to have no other 

 voice than the clattering sound which it produces by 

 the snapping of its mandibles. 



