220. _Pseudotantalus leucocephalus_: The Painted Stork. The Pelican Ibis of old writers. (F. 1552), (J. 938), (+V; 3-1/2 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.
Not found in the Punjab; very common in the Deccan. (Its head is figured in Vol. IV., p. 376 of F.)
221. _Anastomus oscitans_: The Open-Bill. The Shell Ibis of the older writers. (F. 1553), (J. 940), (+V; nearly 3 feet long.)
This bird is distinguished from all others by the fact that the mandibles do not meet in the middle; indeed the beak looks as though it had become distorted owing to the attempts of the bird to crack a very hard nut! (The head is figured on p. 378, F. IV.) It is a greyish white bird with black shoulders, wings, and tail. The bill is light horn colour, and the legs dirty pink.
To my mind this bird looks like a white stork that sadly needs a wash and brush up and its beak put straight!
Found only in N. India. Abundant in Oudh and Bengal.
Herons are wading birds with long, sharp, stiletto-like bills and telescopic necks. It is their habit to stand motionless in shallow water with the head almost buried on the shoulders. When a victim shows itself, out shoots the neck of the fisher, and woe betide his victim! On the wing herons are easily identified by their large size, the steady flapping of their wings, and the fact that they fly with the neck drawn in and the legs projecting behind beyond the tail. A great many species of heron occur in India, but only four are commonly seen by the average observer.
222. _Ardea cinerea_: The Common Heron. This is the familiar heron of England. (F. 1555), (J. 923), (+V; a little over a yard long.)
An ashy-grey bird with some white on the head. From the back of the head some black plumes hang. Lower parts white. Bill dark yellow. Legs dirty green.
223. _Bubulcus coromandus_: The Cattle Egret. (F. 1562), (J. 929), (+IV.)
A pure white bird with a yellow bill and black legs. In the breeding season some yellow plumes grow from the back of the head.