Page:Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, Volume 12.djvu/36

20 This bird was captured by means of a slight shot-wound in the wing, without breaking a bone, and is now in my possession in excellent health. To my scientific friend, Mr. Austin of Bridgewater, naturalists in general, and myself in particular, are indebted for this addition to the British Fauna, he having rescued it from plebeian hands, where in all probability the circumstance would have been consigned to oblivion. It was shot in West Sedgemoor, adjoining the parish of Stoke St. Gregory, Somersetshire, on the 13th of May 1814; and what is remarkable, another very rare bird, the White Spoonbill, was shot on the same moor, by the same person, in November of the preceding year.

When first the Black Stork was observed, it was searching for food by the side of a drain, and when approached flew a considerable distance; but in a second attempt the fowler got sufficiently near to slightly wound it. It made little resistance, and on the following day ate some eels that had been placed near it.

I was greatly rejoiced to receive this interesting bird alive from Mr. Austin, as its manners do not seem to be much known. Like the White Stork, it frequently rests upon one leg; and if alarmed, particularly by the approach of a dog, it makes a considerable noise by reiterated snapping of the bill, similar to that species. It soon became docile, and would follow its feeder for a favourite morsel, an eel. When very hungry it crouches, resting the whole length of the legs upon the ground, and supplicantly seems to demand food, by nodding the head, flapping its unwieldy pinions, and forcibly blowing the air from the lungs with audible exspirations. Whenever it is approached, the expulsion of air accompanied by repeated nodding 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 Rh