150 
BLACK STORK. 
The Black Stork, Ciconia nigra. — C. nigra , 
Will. — Ardea nigra, Linn. — Cicogne noire, Temm. 
— Black Stork of British authors. — The first spe- 
cimen, taken in the British Islands, was in Somer- 
setshire, in 1814, and it fortunately came into the 
possession of Colonel Montague, who published the 
record of its appearance, with an account of its 
habits during the period it continued alive in his 
possession.* Another was taken, in 1831, on the 
Thames, a third near Ipswich, and the last in No- 
vember, 1839, in the Isle of Purbeck, at the south 
side of Poole harbour. + Its native countries are 
said to be Switzerland, Hungary, and Turkey, build- 
ing in secluded forests, on the tops of high trees. J 
It is also found at the Cape of Good Hope§ and 
Madeira. || It is easily tamed, and is an elegant 
species, its dark and glossy upper plumage contrast- 
ing beautifully with the white of its under parts, 
relieved by the deep red of the bill and legs. 
Mr. Yarrell thus describes the bird in the Zoolo- 
gical Gardens. “ The beak and naked skin around 
the eye are red, tinged with orange ; the irides red- 
dish-brown ; the head and neck all round, upper sur- 
face of the body, wings, and wing-coverts, are glossy 
black, varied with blue, purple, copper-coloured, 
and green reflections ; the primary quill-feathers 
and the tail, black ; the whole of the under surface 
of the body, from the bottom of the neck to the 
* See Trans. Linn. Soe. for 1815. + Yarrel. t Selby. 
§ Dr. Smith. || Dr. Heineken. 
