226 STOI^IES ABOUT BIRDS. 



The ancient Egyptians almost -worshipped the stork, and it was one oi 

 their sacred birds. 



The reason why the stork is so much beloved is because it destroys the 

 snakes, and rats, and mice, and other unpleasant creatures that infest the 

 town. It settles fearlessly on the chimneys and roofs of the houses, and 

 builds a flat nest of sticks, lined with twigs, and straw, and dry grass. There 

 are three or four eggs of a bluish white colour, and it takes thirty days to 

 hatch them. 



In Holland and Germany the stork rears her young in the utmost 

 security on the tops of the houses, and even walks about in the most crowded 

 streets, amid men and women and children, without the least danger. To 

 harm a stork is considered an act of barbarity. 



The young birds come out of the shell covered with down, and remain in 

 the nest until the end of summer. The parent storks watch over them with 

 the greatest attention, and feed them by putting food into their mouths 

 from their own beaks. Nothing would ever induce the stork to leave her 

 young ones ; she would rather remain and perish with them. We can tell 

 you a little story in proof this. 



Once there was a great fire in the city of Delfth, in Holland. The flames 

 spread to a house on which a mother stork was rearing her young. The little 

 ones Avcre too weak to fly, and their i:>arents did all they could to carry then> 

 away. They made many and desperate efforts, but it was all in vain, and 

 the little ones were obliged to remain in the nest. Meanwhile, the fire came 

 nearer and nearer, and you Avould think the old storks would be frightened 

 and fly away. But no ; they still refused to leave their little ones, and 

 stayed close by them. Even when the flames closed round the nest they did 

 not stir, choosing rather to die with their young ones than desert them ; and 

 the whole family perished together. 



After such a touching history, one does not wonder that the stork is 

 respected and beloved. 



The birds return year after year to their old haunts, and are eagerly 

 welcomed by the owners of the houses. No doubt the useful and friendly 

 birds would attach themselves in the same way to our English homes ; but, 

 unfortunately, every stork that has shown her face amongst us has been at 

 once shot down by the remorseless gun, so that there is no chance of their 

 dwelling among us. 



