THE ADJUTANT, OR ARGALA. 
558 
The habits of the Stork are well told by Colonel Montague in Ms account of a Black Stork 
(Ciconia nigra) domesticated by him : — 
“ Like the white Stork, it frequently rests upon one leg, and if alarmed, especially by the 
approach of a dog, it makes a considerable noise by reiterated snappings of the bill, similar to 
that species. It soon became docile, and would follow its feeder for its favorite morsel, an eel. 
When very hungry, it crouches, resting the whole length of the legs upon the ground, and 
suppliantly seems to solicit food by nodding the head, flapping its unwieldy pinions, and 
forcibly blowing the air from the lungs with audible expirations. Whenever it is approached, 
the expulsion of air, accompanied by repeated noddings of the head, is provoked. 
“ The bird is of a mild and peaceful disposition, very unlike many of its congeners, for it 
never makes use of its formidable bill offensively against any of the companions of its prison, 
and even submits peaceably to be taken up without much struggle. From the manner in wMch 
it is observed to search the grass with its bill, there can be no doubt that reptiles form part of 
its natural food ; even mice, worms, and the larger insects probably add to its usual repast. 
When searching in thick grass or in the mud for its prey, the bill is kept partly open ; by this 
means I have observed it take eels in a pond with great dexterity ; no spear in common use 
for taking that fish can more effectually secure it between its fangs than the grasp of the 
Stork’s mandibles. A small eel has no chance of escaping when once roused from its lurking- 
place. 
“ But the Stork does not gorge its prey instantly, like the cormorant ; on the contrary, it 
retires to the margin of the pond, and there disables its prey by shaking and beating it with 
its bill before it ventures to swallow it. I never observed this bird attempt to swim, but it will 
wade up to the belly and occasionally thrust the whole head and neck under water after its 
prey. It prefers an elevated spot on which to repose ; an old, ivy-bound weeping-willow that 
lies prostrate over the pond is usually resorted to for that purpose. In this quiescent state 
the neck is much shortened by resting the hinder part of the head on the back, and the bill 
rests on the fore part of the neck, over which the feathers flow partly so as to conceal it, mak- 
ing a very singular appearance.” 
The Stork is fond of making its nest upon some elevated spot, such as the top of a house, 
a chimney, or a church spire ; and in the ruined cities of the East, almost every solitary pillar 
has its Stork’s nest upon the summit. The nest is little more than a heterogeneous bundle of 
sticks, reeds, and similar substances heaped together, and with a slight depression for the eggs. 
These are usually three or four in number, and their color is white with a tinge of buff. The 
young are puffy, big-beaked, long-necked, ungainly little things, and remain in their lofty 
cradle until they are well fledged and able to achieve the downward flight. The mother-bird 
is exceedingly devoted to her young, and there are many well-known tales of this parental 
affection. On account, probably, of this trait of character, the Stork is looked upon with a 
feeling of reverence in many countries, and is encouraged to build its nest on the houses, the 
inhabitant thinking that the bird will bring him good fortune. 
The flight of the Stork is extremely high, and the birds fly in large flocks, in some instances 
numbering many thousand individuals. So great an aerial assembly of such large birds neces- 
sarily causes a loud and peculiar rushing sound of huge wings ; but except an occasional sharp 
clattering of beaks, the flocks make no noise. Like many of the long-legged birds, the Stork, 
when resting, stands on one leg, its neck doubled back, and its head resting on its shoulder. 
The color of the adult Stork is pure white, with the exception of the quill-feathers of the 
wings, the scapularies and greater wing-coverts, which are black. The skin round the eye is 
black, the -eyes are brown, and the beak, legs, and hoes red. The length of the full-grown 
bird is about three feet six inches, and when erect, its head is about £our feet from the ground. 
Some remarkable members of this group now come before our notice. The first is the 
well-known Adjutant, or Argala of India, the former name being derived from its habit of 
frequenting the parade-grounds. 
This fine bird fs notable for the enormous sire of the beak, which is capable of seizing and 
swalloAving objects of considerable size, a full-grown cat, a fowl, or a leg of mutton being 
vol. n.— to. 
