188 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



interna. Basi -pterygoid processes absent. Tarsi long, toes more 

 or less, at least at base, connected ; hind -toe always present. 11 

 to 12 primaries, wings full and long. Oil-gland feathered. Young 

 helpless. Four families. 



Key to families of Order Gressores. 

 f Patches of powder-down on breast and sides of rump . Ardeidce 



\ No patches of powder -down 2 



9 f Bill straight, claws blunt Ciconiidce 



{ Bill curved, claws pointed ....... Plegadidce 



Family CICONIIM]. 



The Storks. Sternum behind with two incisions. No patches 

 of powder -down. Bill hi Palsearctic forms, long, strong, straight 

 or slightly turned upwards, cuneiform. Holorhine. Claws blunt, 

 not pectinated. Tarsus reticulated. Over 20 species in both 

 hemispheres. 



Genus CICONIA L. 



Ciconia Brisson, Orn., i, p. 48 (1760 — Type by tautonymy "ciconia,'" 

 i.e. Ciconia ciconia, cf. vol. v, p. 361). 



Bill straight, nostrils a short horizontal slit. Part of lores 

 and chin bare. Lower feathers of neck elongated. Tail slightly 

 rounded, lower tail-coverts ordinary. One moult. 



CICONIA CICONIA 



270. Ciconia ciconia ciconia (L.)— THE WHITE STORK. 



Akdea Ciconia Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. x, i, p. 142 (1758 — Restricted 



typical locality : Sweden). 



Ciconia alba Bechstein, Yarrell, iv, p. 219 ; Saunders, p. 387. 



Description. — Adult male and female. Winter and summer. — 

 Whole plumage white except long scapulars, greater wing -coverts,, 

 primary-coverts, primaries and secondaries which are jet-black, 

 extreme base of outer webs of primaries tinged grey, outer webs 

 of secondaries especially outer feathers and when fresh washed 

 considerable amount of grey. Feathers of head and neck narrow 

 and those of upper- or east very long and narrow. This plumage is 

 acquired by complete moult, but insufficient material is available 

 to determine period ; birds examined in moult dated July. Sept., 

 Jan. and Feb. 



Nestling. — Down at first, short, white and sparse. When 

 bird is about a week old this is replaced by longer white down, 

 which also grows closely all over body where first down was absent. 



Juvenile. — Like adult but long scapulars and greater wing- 

 coverts tinged brown especially at tips ; inner median wing-coverts 



