In the young birds these last distinctions are imperceptible. In both species the bill is inclined to livid yellow in colour, and is more or less spotted with black towards the base, as is the head, which is dusky. When the bird is at rest the pouch as well as the neck are of a pale flesh-colour, but when it is excited they acquire a redder tinge. These parts are sparingly covered with a few scattered brownish hairs, most numerous in the young birds, and resembling down in the early stages of its growth. The tail is black ; the under parts pure white, more especially the ruder tail coverts, which afford the beautiful plumes. These are sometime. of a grayish slate-colour in the Indian species ; but the white of the African Gathers is not so clear and brilliant as that of the Indian plumes, to which a decided and just preference is given. The natural colour of the lege is dusky black, but in living birds these Buda are generally whitened by the dust shaken out of the plumage and other excrement Geographical Distribution of the Marabou.—Nearly the whole of Tropical Africa to the Cape of Good Hope, when it is not common. (Temminck.) Banks of the Nile. (Itfippell) Neighbourhood of the large towns of the interior. (Denham.) Western coast. (Smeathman.) Habits, Food, &c.—Nearly resembling those of the White Stork, like which it is privileged, on account of its utility as a scavenger in freeing the villages and towns of offensive substances, like its Indian congener. Its omnivorous voracity is well described by Denham.
When carrion and filth are scarce, reptiles, small bird; and small quadrupeds fall victims to its appetite. These are usually swallowed entire. Smeathman gave to Dr. Latham an anecdote of a domesticated individual which roosted very high among the silk-cotton trees, and would descry the servants bringing the dishes to the diuner-table, from a distance of two or three miles from its perch. It stood behind its master's chair waiting to be fed, and occasionally helped itself, not withstanding the guardianship of the servants who carried switches to prevent its snatching the meat, which it nevertheless sometimea contrived to do : in this way it had been known to swallow a boiled fowl at a single mouthful. Besides the pouch, the skin at the back of the neck can be inflated so as to have somewhat the appearance of a counterpoise to the former. When the sun is shining upon the bird we have observed this latter pouch, if pouch it may be called, very prominent, apparently from the rarefaction of the air. The bird flies high and roosts high, probably for the purpose of taking in a large area of observation, to enable it to perceive those objects on which it feeds. May not these pouches assist, balloon-like, in supporting or balancing the great head and bill? Living specimens of the White and Black Stork, the Marabou, Jabiru, and American Maguari are now in the Gardens of the Zoological Society, Regent's Park.