GIGANTIC STORK. 
623 
same, but more dull ; the hind part of the head 
and neck red, with here and there a warty ex- 
crescence, mixed with a few straggling hairs, 
curled at the ends : the craw hangs down on the 
fore-part of the neck, like a pouch, and twines 
round the back part ; the lower part of it furnished 
with hairs like the rest of the neck, but at the 
bottom are in greater number, and of a triangular 
form : the upper parts of the back and shoulders 
are surrounded with white downy feathers : the 
back itself and wing-coverts deep bluish ash-colour : 
second quills dusky brown : prinre'^uills and tail 
deep blackish lead-colour ; the last scarcely exceeds 
the quills in length ; the feathers of it are ten 
inches long, and twelve in number : the feathers 
of the sides beneath the wings, and those of the 
vent and under tail-coverts, are long and downy, 
some of them measuring near .a foot, and of a 
dusky white colour, as are all the under parts of 
the body : the legs are long, and black, naked far 
above the knees, and very scaly : the toes are 
webbed at the base : the claws blunt.’' 
This bird is a native of Africa and Asia : it 
arrives at Bengal at the commencement of the 
rainy season. It is a most voracious animal, eating 
as much as would serve four men at a meal, and 
is very useful in clearing the country of reptiles 
and snakes, upon which it feeds. A long account 
of a tame bird of this species is given by Latham, 
from Smeathman. It regularly attended the hall 
at dinner-time, placing itself behind its master’s 
chair, frequently before any of the guests entered. 
