. Reptiles and birds : a popular account of their various orders, with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting . at on to the lower mandible. It lives in smallcompanies, and frequents the sea-shore. It is easily tamed. There are two species of them: the White Spoonbill {P. Icucorodia,Fig. 127), which has a tuft on the back of its neck, and is found inmost parts of Europe—it is, however, seldom met with in France,and then only in the south; and the Rose-coloured Spoonbill, anative of South America, the plumage of which possesses the mostbeautiful tints. The Stork {Ciconi
. Reptiles and birds : a popular account of their various orders, with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting . at on to the lower mandible. It lives in smallcompanies, and frequents the sea-shore. It is easily tamed. There are two species of them: the White Spoonbill {P. Icucorodia,Fig. 127), which has a tuft on the back of its neck, and is found inmost parts of Europe—it is, however, seldom met with in France,and then only in the south; and the Rose-coloured Spoonbill, anative of South America, the plumage of which possesses the mostbeautiful tints. The Stork {Ciconia) has a long and straight bill, wide at the 326 REPTILES AND BIRDS. base, pointed, and sharp-edged; legs long and slender; tibia barefor half its length ; tarsi long, compressed, reticulated; hind toeshort, slightly elevated, and inserted rather high, but resting uponthe ground; the tail is short. They are found in nearly all parts ofthe world. Some species migrate with regularity, being admirablyconstructed for travelling long distances; for, although their bulkseems great, their weight is comparatively small, as most of their. Fig. 127. —Common White Spoonbill. bones are hollow. In their migratory journeys, which occur princi-pally by night, they fly in continuous or angular lines. Storks prefer moist swampy localities, as they feed principally onreptiles, batrachians, and fishes ; but small birds and mammalia, mol-luscs, worms, insects, even bees are not refused by them, or carrion,and other impurities. Their manner is slow and grave ; they neverappear in a hurry. On the v^^ing they resemble crosses, from theirmanner of carrying the head and neck. They have no voice,and the only noise they make is a cracking, which results from onemandible striking against the other, and which expresses eitheranger or love; it is sometimes very loud, and, under favourablecircumstances, may be heard as much as a league away. They lay THE STORK. 327 from two to lour eggs, their fecundity
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectreptiles, bookyear1
