ADJUTANT, a large stork (Leptoptilus argala) found in India and southeastern Asia, and so called by the English on account of its erect, officer-like appearance. Its Hindu name is uargala.° Its height is about five feet, its spread of wings about 14 feet. The back and wings are slate-colored, the bare, flesh-colored head and neck are marked with and elsewhere it is white. The beautiful °marl bou° feathers of commerce are taken from the under side of the wings. A pouch, which probably serves some purpose in connection with the organs of breathing, hangs from the under part of the neck and is capable of great distension. The bill is of great size, and the appetite of the bird is correspondingly large. It is a scavenger, its food being carrion, offal and small live animals, and it runs freely about Indian villages, protected for its useful works. The maribou of Africa is a closely related species.
an officer on the staff of the commander-in-chief, his secre tary and principal assistant in issuing orders and supervising their execution, malting re ports and keeping registers, etc.; and having general charge of the drill and discipline of an army. In the United States army there is a department known as the Adjutant-General's Department, all the officers of which are above the grade of captain, and who have, in addition to the title of adjutant-general, the specific title of brigade or division adjutant when serving as such with a brigade or di vision in the field. The chief of the depart
ment has the rank of brigadier-general and the title of °the adjutant-general.° He is charged tinder the direction of the secretary of war, and subject to the supervision of the chief of staff in all matters pertaining to the command, discipline, or administration of the existing military establishment, with the duty of recording, authenticating and communicat ing to troops and individuals in the military service all orders, instructions and regulations issued by the secretary of war through the chief of staff; of preparing and distributing commissions; of compiling and issuing the Army Register and the Army List and Direc tory. of preparing the annual returns of the militia to be submitted to Congress; of man aging the recruiting service; of collecting mil itary information, and with the custody of all official and historical records, including all pension, pay, bounty, etc., pertaining to or based on the military or medical histories of former officers or enlisted men. Individual States also have their own adjutant-general, with cognate duties regarding the State militia. In many countries, such as Germany and Russia, the term has retained its original meaning of an officer .on the personal staff, and is the designation of personal aides-de camp to the sovereign.