A black bird, except for the neck and lower abdomen and feathers under the tail, which are white. Bill black; legs dull red.
Not found in Punjab or Sind.
[218]. Xenorhynchus asiaticus: The Black-necked Stork. Sportsmen call this bird the Australian Stork. (F. 1549), (J. 917), (+V; 4½ feet long.)
Beak, head, neck, and shoulders black; wings black and white. Rest of plumage white; legs bright red.
[219]. Leptopilus dubius: The Adjutant. (F. 1550), (J. 915), (+V; 5 feet long.)
This huge bird is characterised by an enormous beak, over a foot in length, and a head devoid of feathers. From its neck hangs a pouch. There is a ruff of white feathers round the neck. The lower parts are white. The wings are partly dark slaty grey and partly French grey. The bill is dirty pink, and the legs dirty greyish white.
Not found in S. India. (Illus. B. P., pp. 28 and 34; also I. F., p. 232.)
[220]. Pseudotantalus leucocephalus: The Painted Stork. The Pelican Ibis of old writers. (F. 1552), (J. 938), (+V; 3½ feet long.)
This is a stork which is trying to turn into an ibis; its bill, which is ten inches long, having a marked downward curve. It is a white bird with a black band across the breast. The wings are mainly black, but some of the feathers are pink with white borders.
The front of the head is devoid of feathers and is orange-yellow, as is the bill. The legs are brown.