GIGANTIC STORK. 



623 



same, but more dull ; the hind part of the head 

 and neck red, with here and there a warty ex- 

 crescence, mixed with a few straggling hairs, 

 curled at the ends : the craw hangs down on the 

 fore-part of the neck, like a pouch, and twines 

 round the back part ; the lower part of it furnished 

 with hairs like the rest of the neck, but at the 

 bottom are in greater number, and of a triangular 

 form : the upper parts of the back and shoulders 

 are surrounded wdth white downy feathers : the 

 back itself and wing-coverts deep bluish ash-colour : 

 second quills dusky brown : prime quills and tail 

 deep blackish lead-colour ; the last scarcely exceeds 

 the quills in length ; the feathers of it are ten 

 inches long, and twelve in number : the feathers 

 of the sides beneath the wings, and those of the 

 vent and under tail-coverts, are long and downy, 

 some of them measuring near a foot, and of a 

 dusky white colour, as are all the under parts of 

 the body : the legs are long, and black, naked far 

 above the knees, and very scaly : the toes are 

 webbed at the base : the claws blunt.'^ 



This bird is a native of Africa and Asia : it 

 arrives at Bengal at the commencement of the 

 rainy season. It is a most voracious animal, eating 

 as much as would serve four men at a meal, and 

 is very useful in clearing the country of reptiles 

 and snakes, upon which it feeds. A long account 

 of a tame bird of this species is given by Latham, 

 from Smeathman. It regularly attended the hall 

 at dinner-time, placing itself behind its master's 

 chair, frequently before any of the guests entered. 



