THE ADJUTANT, OR ARGALA. 553 



The habits of the Stork are well told by Colonel Montague in his account of a Black Stork 

 (Ciconia nigra) domesticated by him : — 



"Like the white Stork, it frequently rests upon one leg, and if alarmed, especially by the 

 approach of a dog, it makes a considerable noise by reiterated strappings of the bill, similar to 

 that species. It soon became docile, and would follow its feeder for its favorite morsel, an eel. 

 When very hungry, it crouches, resting the whole length of the legs upon the ground, and 

 suppliantly seems to solicit food by nodding the head, flapping its unwieldy pinions, and 

 forciblj* blowing the air from the lungs with audible expirations. Whenever it is approached, 

 the expulsion of air, accompanied by repeated noddings of the head, is provoked. 



" 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 companions of its prison, 

 and even submits j>eaceably 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 secure it between its fangs than the grasp of the 

 Stork's 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 pond, and there disables its prey by shaking and beating it with 

 its bill before it ventures to swallow it. I never observed 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 which to repose : an old. ivy-bound weeping-willow that 

 lies prostrate over the pond is usually resorted to for that purpose. In this quiescent state 

 the neck is much shortened by resting the lander part of the head on the back, and the bill 

 rests on the fore part of the neck, over which the feathers flow partly so as to conceal it, mak- 

 ing a very singular appearance." 



The Stork is fond of making its nest upon some elevated spot, such as the top of a house, 

 a chimney, or a church spire ; and in the ruined cities of the East, almost every solitary pillar 

 has its Stork's nest upon the summit. The nest is little more than a heterogeneous bundle of 

 sticks, reeds, and similar substances heaped together, and with a slight depression for the eggs. 

 These are usually three or four in number, and their color is white with a tinge of buff. The 

 young are puffy, big-beaked, long-necked, ungainly little things, and remain in their lofty 

 cradle until they are well fledged and able to achieve the downward flight. The mother-bird 

 is exceedingly devoted to her young, and there are many well-known tales of this parental 

 affection. On account, probably, of this trait of character, the Stork is looked upon with a 

 feeling of reverence in many countries, and is encouraged to build its nest on the houses, the 

 inhabitant thinking that the bird will bring him good fortune. 



The flight of the Stork is extremely high, and the birds fly in large flocks, in some instances 

 numbering many thousand individuals. So great an aerial assembly of such large birds neces- 

 sarily causes a loud and peculiar rushing sound of huge wings ; but except an occasional sharp 

 clattering of beaks, the flocks make no noise. Like many of the long-legged birds, the Stork, 

 when resting, stands on one leg, its neck doubled back, and its head resting on its shoulder. 



The color of the adult Stork is pure white, with the exception of the quill-feathers of the 

 wings, the scapularies and greater wing-coverts, which are black. The skin round the eye is 

 black, the eyes are brown, and the beak, legs, and toes red. The length of the full-grown 

 bird is about three feet six inches, and when erect, its head is about four feet from the ground. 



Some remarkable members of this group now come before our notice. The first is the 

 well-known Adjutant, or Akuala of India, the former name being derived from its habit of 

 frequenting the parade-grounds. 



This fine bird is notable for the enormous size of the beak, winch is capable of seizing and 

 swallowing objects of considerable size, a full-grown cat. a fowl, or a leg of mutton being 

 vol. n.-ro. 



