38 



OICONIID* 



CIC0NI4. 



Belli, Zool. 1882, p. 423 ; Sharije, ed. LayarcVs B. S. Afr. p. 728 

 (1884) ; Seebolim, Ibis, 1887, p. 345 ; Kirhy, Haunts Wild Game 

 p. 559 (1896); Bryden, Nat. and Sport, p. 44 (1897); Woodward 

 Bros., Natal B p. 199 (1899) ; Haagner, Ibis, 1902, p. 574 ; White- 

 head, Ibis, 1903, p. 237. 



Cioonia ciconia, Shelley, B. Afr. i, p. 159 (1896) ; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. 

 xxvi, p. 299 (1898) ; Beichenow, Vog. Afr. i, p. 345 (1901). 



" Great Locust Bird " of the English, " Springhaans Vogel " of the 

 Dutch; " Ingolantete" of the Zulus (^Yoodward). 



Description. Adult male. — General colour above and below 

 white, the wings, including the primary coverts, primaries, secon- 

 daries and scapulars, black, with a slight greenish or purplish gloss. 

 Iris brown ; bill dark red ; skin of pouch black anteriorly, red 

 posteriorly ; skin round the eye black ; legs and feet reddish-pink, 

 claws black. 



Length about 46-0; wing 24-0; tail IG'O ; culmen 7-0; tarsus 

 8-5 ; middle toe and claw 3'5. 



The female resembles the male, and the young bird is like the 

 adult, but has the wings browner and not so glossy. The length of 

 the bill varies considerably, and in some specimens the inner wing- 

 quills are powdered with slaty-grey, to a greater or lesser extent. 



Distribution. — The White Stork is found throughout temperate 

 Europe, from Spain to Germany and South Eussia, extending 

 eastwards to Turkestan, in all of which countries it breeds. In the 

 British Isles it is only an irregular visitor. During the northern 

 winter it retreats southwards to Africa and India. 



Within our limits it is found most abundantly to the north of 

 the Orange Eiver, but its movements are everywhere somewhat 

 irregular, depending to a great extent on the swarms of locusts on 

 which it chiefly feeds. 



