738 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



islands ; and is said to be found also in Africa. It breeds on high 

 trees, making a large nest of sticks, and laying two to four white 

 eggs, from March to June or July. The flesh is somewhat coarse 

 in texture, but is said to be palatable enough when cooked as 

 a steak, hence this Stork is sometimes called the Beefsteak bird 

 by Europeans in Bengal. The name Manik-jor means the com- 

 panion of Manik, a Saint, and some Mussulmans in consequence 

 abstain from eating it. 



Another Stork from Africa, Cic. Abdimii, Licht., figured in 

 Ruppell's Atlas, pi. 8, is made the type of Abdimia by Bonaparte. 

 It chiefly differs from the last species in having the neck purple 

 instead of white. 



Fam. Ardeid^e, Herons. 



Bill typically more slender than in the Storks, very sharp, 

 deeply cleft ; legs long, scutellated -, toes long, slender ; outer toe 

 only joined by web to the middle one ; hind toe long, on the same 

 plane as the others ; middle toe with the inner edge of the claw 

 dilated and pectinated ; nostrils narrow, at the basal extremity 

 of a lone; furrow. 



The Herons vary in size from that of a Stork to a Rail, and the 

 most typical have long legs, a long neck, and a considerable portion 

 of the tibia bare. They are for the most part solitary when feeding, 

 but many roost together ; and they habitually breed in society, 

 the majority on trees, a few among thick reeds. The eggs are from 

 four to six in number, very pale blue or greenish. The young are 

 helpless, and are fed by their parents till nearly full-grown. The 

 sexes are alike or nearly so, the female being generally smaller, 

 and with shorter crests or plumes. They usually watch for their 

 prey, moving slowly about ; and when unsuccessful, flying off to 

 a fresh bit of water. They feed chiefly on fish, also on crabs, 

 frogs, and a few on insects, which they seek for on land, among 

 cattle. They rarely run, but fly with ease, though not very fast. 



Their sternum is like that of the Storks. They have 17 cervical 

 vertebras; the head can be bent down on the 1st vertebra; this 

 on the second, and so on to the 6th ; but this motion cannot be 

 performed backwards. The stomach is a very large membranous 



