The New Student's Reference Work/Adjutant
Ad′jutant, a large stork found in tropical India, by the English given the soldier name because of its erect attitude and solemn manner of stalking about. Argala is the native name. It is of great size, sometimes six feet high and fourteen feet in expanse of wings. Its beak is very large; it sometimes catches crows and other birds on the wing, and is able to swallow a kitten, fowl or leg of mutton, but its usual food is offal, lizards, etc. It frequents the neighborhood of slaughter-houses and the burning-grounds of the Hindus. It is so useful as a scavenger that in some places in India it is protected by law. It is greenish-black above and white below. The head and neck are bare or provided with a few scattered hairs, the legs long and naked. At the lower part of the neck is a peculiar air-pouch which is also bare; it is inflated during flight. The beautiful marabou feathers used in trimming ladies’ hats come from the tail of the adjutant and also from the closely related marabou stork of Africa. The adjutant is said to utter a loud grunting croak or bellow.
