THE BLACK STORK. 



Ciconia nigra, Linnaeus. 

 Plate 42. 



Rarer than the last-mentioned species, the Black Stork has been recorded in 

 England about twenty times, two of these having occurred in the Scilly Islands. 

 According to the B.O.U. " List of British Birds," 2nd ed., it " breeds in Europe and 

 Asia, ranging from southern Sweden and central Russia eastwards across Siberia, 

 south of about 55° N. latitude, to Mongolia, southwards to Spain, Turkey, 

 Palestine, Persia, Turkestan, and north China. In winter it visits Africa, ranging 

 southwards to the Cape and to India." In habits it differs from the White Stork, 

 avoiding the neighbourhood of human dwellings, and making its home in forests 

 of tall trees near marshy ground, and sometimes on cliffs. The nest is built of 

 sticks, with a lining of grass and moss, and occasionally the birds occupy the 

 former habitations of other species. The eggs vary in number from three to five, 

 and are a dull white in colour. 



Howard Saunders states {Manual of British Birds, 2nd ed.), " When the 

 shell is held to the light the lining membrane shows green, whereas it is yellowish 

 in the egg of the White Stork." 



The Black Stork feeds on frogs and other reptiles, fishes, and insects, obtained 

 in the marshes. It makes a clattering sound with the bill, like that produced by 

 its congener. 



The male and female do not differ in colour, but the immature bird is of a 

 brownish colour on the upper parts, with the feathers mostly margined with dull 

 white. 



III. 



9 



B 



