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Family CICONIID^I. 



Genus CICONIA. 



Ciconia, Brisson, Orn. v. p. 361 (1760). 



Ardea apud Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 235 (1766). 



Melanopelargus apud Reichenbach, Syst. Av. v. p. 165 (1850). 



The Storks inhabit the Palsearctic, Ethiopian, Oriental, Australian, and Neotropical Regions, two 

 species being resident in the Western Palsearctic Region. Ciconia abdimii,~L\cht.,is said to have 

 been obtained in Spain ; for Mr. Saunders states that there is a good description of one, killed 

 near Granada on the 18th June 1858, in Don Victor Seoane's 'Catalogo de las Aves observadas 

 in Andalucia.' But the specimen does not seem to be forthcoming, if in existence ; I therefore 

 think it premature to admit that species into the European list. 



The Storks frequent, as a rule, marshy places, but are also found in meadows and cultivated 

 ground near water ; and one of our European species evinces a great partiality for inhabited 

 districts, and appears to be fond of placing its nest on houses, even in towns. Although tame 

 and confiding to a degree where they are not molested, they are shy enough when in the marshes 

 away from habitations ; and the Black Stork, which frequents wilder and uninhabited places, is 

 sufficiently wary. They walk with ease, often wading far into the water in search of food ; and 

 their flight, though rather heavy, is strong and tolerably swift. They feed on reptiles, fish, insects, 

 and small mammals, and are said to devour poisonous snakes. They place their nests, which are 

 large, bulky structures of sticks lined with grass, straw, &c, on a building, or else on a tree or in 

 a cave ; and their eggs, from three to five in number, are pure white. 



Ciconia alba, the type of the genus, has the bill much longer than the head, stout, straight, 

 conical, tapering to a point ; gape-line straight, commencing below the eyes ; nostrils elongated, 

 oval ; a small space round the eye bare ; wings long, full, the first quill rather short, the third 

 longest ; inner secondaries nearly as long as the primaries ; tail short, slightly rounded ; legs 

 long, slender, tibia bare on the lower half, reticulated, tarsus reticulated all round ; toes 

 moderate, hind toe rather short, anterior toes webbed and reticulate at the base, elsewhere 

 scutellate ; claws short, obtuse ; plumage compact, moderately full. 



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