THE STILT-WALKERS. 59 



and turning them adroitly in its beak, and swallowing them head downwards. The entire day- 

 is passed in thus searching for food, with the exception of a short time devoted to repose at noon ; 

 and at night it retires shortly after sunset to sleep upon the branches, only resuming its active labours 

 at sunrise. Occasionally, but probably very rarely, it is seen at work till a later hour. The flight of 

 the Spoonbill is beautifully light, and often performed in circles, or the bird assumes a hovering 

 motion, and flies with neck stretched directly forward, making rapid strokes with its wings ; the voice 

 is quaking, and only audible at a short distance. In disposition these birds are usually timid and 

 cautious, but if not molested soon acquire confidence. With their own kind they live in the utmost 

 harmony, and are constantly to be seen billing and arranging each other's feathers, with every 

 demonstration of sympathy and affection. Even when excited by hunger they never actually quarrel ; 

 and appear almost incapable of existing apart from their companions. During the breeding season 

 the same social disposition is also manifested, regular settlements are formed, and as many nests 

 as possible are placed close together on trees ; should the latter not be attainable, reeds are sometimes 

 resorted to for this purpose. The nest is broad, and carelessly constructed of dry twigs and reeds, lined 

 with leaves, rushes, or grass, and contains from two to four large, thick-shelled, and coarsely-grained 

 eggs, of a lustreless, whitish hue, very variously spotted, and marked with pale reddish grey and yellow. 

 Both sexes probably brood and tend their young with great care ; the latter remain with their parents 

 until after their return from the winter migration, and do not commence the cares of a family till they 

 are three years old. The Spoonbill is readily tamed if taken young, and soon accustoms itself 

 to all kinds of nourishment ; in some countries it is still hunted on account of its flesh, which 

 is not, however, particularly well-flavoured. 



The BOAT-BILLS {Cancromata) comprise two strange species, the one occupying South 

 America, the other a native of Africa, and both possessing a very remarkable and powerful broad high 

 beak, a muscular body, moderately long, thick neck ; long, broad, rounded wings, in which the third 

 and fourth quills exceed the rest in length, a moderate-sized, straight tail, and long toes. The soft 

 thick plumage forms a crest upon the nape. 



THE WHALE-HEADED STORK, OR SHOE-BEAK. 



The Whale-headed Stork, or Shoe-beak {Balaniceps rex), is recognisable by its great size, 

 heavy body, thick neck, large head, and the peculiar form of its beak, which, in appearance, much 

 resembles a wooden shoe. In this bill the grooved upper mandible curves slightly inwards, and 

 terminates in a decided hook, whilst its lower portion is entirely covered with a leathery skin. The 

 legs are very long ; the feet large, and the long toes furnished with very powerful claws ; the wings, 

 which are broad and long, have the third and fourth quills longer than the rest; the tail is of 

 medium size, straight, composed of twelve feathers, and the head is adorned with a crest. The large- 

 feathered, but soft plumage, of an ashy grey. All the body-feathers are edged with grey, and those 

 of the tail and quills with greyish black ; the eye is light yellow, the beak horn-grey, and the 

 foot black. 



This remarkable species is extremely numerous on the marshy grounds and rain-beds near the 

 White Nile and the neighbouring streams, and is especially common between five and eight degrees 

 north latitude. 



According to Mr. Petherick, who, in i860, first brought the Shoe-beaks to England, they are but 

 rarely seen on the banks of the Nile itself, as these, shelving off more or less abruptly, furnish few 

 favourable spots for indulging their propensities. Although occasionally seen in the Bahr-il-Gagal, 

 they prefer the natural banks of the morasses of the interior, where the shallowness of the water, 



