736 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



said to build on the loftiest pine-trees in secluded spots, and to lay- 

 two dirty white eggs. 



The next form is that of the well-known White Stork of Europe, 

 and is retained by Bonaparte as restricted Ciconia, having the 

 orbits feathered, and shortish toes. 



919. Ciconia alba, Belon. 



Ardea ciconia, Linnaeus — Blyth, Cat. 1629— Jerdon, Cat. 

 313 — Gould, Birds of Europe, pi. 283 — Lag-lag, H., also Ujli ; 

 i. e., the white bird, as opposed to the last species, also Haji lag-lag 

 — Dhak in N. W. P. — Wadume konga, Tel. 



The White Stoke. 



Descr. — Head, neck, and all the body pure white ; greater- 

 coverts, scapulars, and quills black. 



Bill fine blood red ; hides brown ; naked orbits black ; legs red. 

 Length 3^ feet ; extent 6^ feet; wing 24 inches ; tail 10 ; bill at 

 front 7 1 ; tarsus 8^. 



The White Stork is abundant in the Deccan, the West of Central 

 India, and the N. W. Provinces, rare in the South of India, and 

 unknown in Bengal, or in any of the countries to the Eastwards. 

 It is only a cold weather visitant, coming in October, and 

 departing by the end of March. It frequents extensive open 

 grassy plains, with or without bushes, associates in large flocks, 

 and feeds on grasshoppers, lizards, snakes, centipedes, &c. Occa- 

 sionally it betakes itself to some tank or river in the middle 

 of the day. From the open country it frequents, it is well adapted 

 for being hawked, and it is accordingly a common and favorite 

 quarry for a good Bliyri. It is the most gregarious of all the 

 Storks, and immense flocks are sometimes seen. 



This Stork is an inhabitant of all Asia, Europe, and Africa, and 

 breeds, as is well known, on the tops of houses and chimneys, 

 occasionally in trees, making a large nest of sticks, and laying three 

 or four buffy white eggs. The same birds return year after year 

 to their old nest, and are welcomed and protected by the in- 

 habitants of Holland and other countries. The name Lag-lag is 

 correctly applied to this species by all falconers, and I see that 

 it is the Leglek of the Bucharian Tartars, according to Pallas. 



