49 



the breast, thighs, and inner part of the wings white. Eyes briUiant, 

 and dark hazel in colonr. The legs are blackish with a dark tinge 

 of red, becoming in the adult of a bright red colour, which, as I have 

 been informed, when the bird flies with the legs stretched out, looks 

 like a long red tail. The legs are usually dirty with excremental 

 matter, imparting to them a white appearance, so that the natural 

 colour is seldom seen, except when they just emerge from the water. 

 It is a large feeder, and these birds must consume, in their native 

 haunts, a great quantity of fishes and reptiles. It measures 3 feet 

 10 inches to the top of the head, and is not yet full-grown ; they are 

 said to attain 4 too feet in height. It is shy in disposition and diffi- 

 cult of approach in its wild state ; this can readily be supposed when 

 it is observed in captivity ; for although very docile and readily tamed, 

 still the keen, watchful eye appears always upon you, with a brilliant 

 and piercing look, which causes a feeling of the impossibility of 

 escaping its penetrating glance. Its feeding-grounds and places of 

 rest being about sand-pits, sand-banks, and exposed morasses near the 

 sea-coasts, it is impossible to approach this wary bird without being 

 seen. The first evening it was at my house, seeking for a roosting 

 place, it walked into the hall, gazed at the gas-lamp which had just 

 been lighted, and then proceeded to walk up-stairs, but not liking 

 the ascent, quietly walked down again and returned into the yard, 

 and afterwards went to roost in the coach-house between the carriages, 

 to which place it now I'etires regularly every evening soon after 

 dark. It is always observed to face the sun, and moves about the 

 yard, following the course of that luminary ; it may always be found 

 in that part of the yard where the sun is shining, and with the 

 face invariably towards it. When hungrj^, it follows the cook about 

 (who usually feeds it) ; and if she has neglected its food, looks into 

 the kitchen as if to remind her of the neglect, and waits quietly, but 

 with a searching eye, during the time the meat is cutting up, until 

 it is fed. It is amusing to observe this bird catch flies : he remains 

 very quiet, as if asleep, and on a fly passing him, it is snapped up in 

 his beak in an instant. The only time I observed any manifestation 

 of anger in him was when the " Mooruks " were introduced into the 

 yard where he was parading about : these rapid, fussy, noisy birds 

 running about his range excited his indignation ; for on their coming 

 near him, he slightly elevated the brilliant feathers of the head, the 

 eyes became very brilliant, he ruffled his feathers, and clattered his 

 mandibles as if about to try their sword-like edge upon the intruding 

 " Mooruks ;" buthis anger subsided with these demonstrations, except 

 an occasional flapping of his powerful wings. One day, however, on 

 one of the "Mooruks" approaching too near him, he seized it with 

 his mandibles by the neck, on which the " Mooruk " ran away and 

 did not appear in any way injured. 



No. 387. — Proceedings of the Zoological Society. 



