636 AVLS— STORK 



always resenting this as an offence committed against themselves. S'orks 

 are also common at Aleppo, and in plenty at Seville, in Spain. At Bagdad, 

 hundreds are said to be seen about the houses, walls, and trees ; and ai Per- 

 sepolis, or Chilmanar, in Persia, the remains of the pillars serve them to 

 build on, every pillar having a nest on it. 



This bird bestows much time and care on the education of its young, and 

 does not leave them till they have strength sufficient for defence and support. 

 When they begin to flutter out of the nest, the mother bears them on her 

 wings; she protects them from danger, and will sometimes perish rather 

 than forsake them. 



In autumn they retire into Egypt, and the marshes of Barbary, where 

 they enjoy a second summer, and bring up a second brood. Their migra- 

 tion is performed in immense companies. Dr Shaw saw passing over 

 Mount Carmel three flocks of them, each of which was half a mile in 

 width, and they were three hours in going by. Bellonius informs us, that 

 storks visit Egypt in such abundance, that the fields and meadows are 

 white with them, and that the natives are pleased with their arrival, 

 as the birds deliver them from innumerable swarms of frogs, and also 

 devour serpents. Between Belbeis and Gaza, in Palestine, they perform a 

 similar service, by destroying innumerable rats and mice. 



In the northern countries of Europe there are storks, of which the plu- 

 mage is black. 



MARABOU STORK. i 



The marabou stork appears to inhabit nearly the whole of tropical Africa 

 extending southward, according to M. Temmick, to the neighborhood of the 

 Cape of Good Hope, where, however, it is by no means common. M. 

 Riippel observed it on the banks of the Nile, Major Denham in the neigh- 

 borhood of the large towns in the interior, and Smeathman on the western 

 coast. The plumes imported into Europe are brought chiefly from Senegal. 

 In its habits this bird bears a close resemblance to the white stork of 

 Europe, but becomes still more familiar, and, in consequence of its larger 

 size, renders more essential service in the removal of carrion, offal, and other 

 nuisances. This important office, like the adjutants of Calcutta, it shares 

 with the vultures ; and both birds are universally privileged from all annoy- 

 ance, in return for so meritorious exertion of their natural propensities. 

 They seem to be constantly attracted by the heaps of offensive substances 

 collected in the villages and towns, which they devour without scruple, and 

 in immense quantities. The mode in which the Indian bird performs the 



1 Ciconia marabou, Temm. 



