6 
GUIDE TO THE 
majority of birds the tongue is but little fleshy ; in the 
flamingo, however, it is so plump, that it was a bonne 
b.ouche with Roman epicures. The three anterior toes are 
united by membrane as in the ducks. It is still a matter 
of uncertainty to what groups of birds the flamingoes are 
most nearly allied, but they seem nearly to approach the 
storks in some of their characters, and the geese in 
others. 
The Storks are here represented by the white stork 
Ciconia alba; the white-necked stork , Ciconia (Dissura) 
cpiscopns ; the adjutant, Leptoptilus argala, and the black¬ 
necked stork, Mycteria australis. 
The White Stork is altogether white with the exception 
of the greater wing coverts, the scapulars and the quills 
which are black, and the bill and legs which are red. It 
is an inhabitant alike of Europe, Africa and Asia, but it 
only visits India during the cold weather, arriving about 
October and leaving by the end of March. It occurs 
chiefly in Central and Western India, and only rarely finds 
its way to Southern India. This bird is generally found 
in large flocks on open grassy plains, and it feeds on 
insects and also on reptiles. 
The White-necked Stork can easily be recognized by its 
body being a glossy purplish-back with a white neck and 
tail. It is known to the natives of India as Manik-jor, 
which means the companion of a saint ; hence it is not 
eaten by Mussalmans, as a rule, but on the other hand, 
Europeans have no such scruple, and as the flesh is con¬ 
sidered palatable as a beefsteak, the bird is called by them 
ike beefsteak bird. India, with the countries to the east¬ 
ward, is the home of this stork, and it frequents the 
margins of rivers, jheels and lakes, and its food would • 
