BLACK STORK. 179 



seated in like manner close to each other. It does not 

 appear to be in the nature of the Black Stork to conceal 

 itself among thick foliage when on a tree, nor among rushes 

 and herbage when on the ground, as these birds are sure 

 to expose themselves to view in situations where they are 

 annual visitors ; for instance, on the banks of the Elbe, in 

 Germany, &c. 



When on the ground the Black Stork goes about in 

 the same sedate, slow, and cautious manner as the white stork, 

 and rarely runs. Its position when standing by the water's 

 edge is not very graceful, owing to its habit of lowering 

 its wings, and resting its head on its back, apparently in the 

 most unhappy mood : it is supposed that the bird awaits thus 

 the digestion of its food. We made the same remark when 

 drawing the likeness of the fine specimen in the Zoological 

 Gardens in the Regents Park ; but it not being necessary to 

 draw likenesses in the most unbecoming positions, we have 

 taken the liberty to represent the bird when aroused to the 

 act of walking. When about to take wing the Black Stork 

 takes one or two short leaps ; and when alighting it skims a 

 short distance before touching the ground, and places its 

 wing-feathers in order before it moves on further. 



By nature the Black Stork is shy, watchful, and wild, — far 

 different from the foregoing species, — avoiding at all times the 

 sight of men and their habitations. The adult bird is not 

 even sociable among its own species, nor will it endure the 

 presence of another individual or pair within reach of its dis- 

 trict during the breeding- season, when a pair have chosen a 

 spot for their residence. When more than two Black Storks 

 are seen to arrive during migration in a convenient spot for 

 roosting, they generally prove to be young birds of the year. 



The young of the Black Stork utter a noise not unlike 

 that of the white stork ; but the adult birds are only known 

 to rattle their mandibles together like the foregoing species, 



