482 THE FEATHERKn TRIBES. 



endeavouring to rescue her beloved progeny from destruction. In one of these 

 descents, enveloped in fire and smoke, she fell into the midst of tlie burning embers 

 and perished. 



The most assiduous care in the rearing of the young succeeds to that of incubation. 

 The parents never lose sight of their brood. One remains in charge of the nest, while 

 the other is abroad searching for serpents, lizards, frogs, or snails. Their teaching the 

 young in their first career through the air is said to present an interesting spectacle. 



A variety of passages may be gathered from the writings of the ancients, wliich show 

 tliat they regarded the stoi-k as eminent for requiting its parents. Its name in the 

 Hebrew language signifies mercy or piety ; and its English name is taken, if not directly, 

 yet secondarily through the 8axon, from the Greek word storge, which is often used in 

 our language for natural affection. 



" The Stoi-k's au emblem of true piety ; 

 Because, wlien age lia.s seized and made Ms dam 

 Unfit for flight, the grateful young one takes 

 His mother on his back, provides her food, 

 Kepaying thus her tender care of him. 

 Ere he was fit to fly."* 



Burcherrode, a Dane, relates what he has seen, and that, it has been remarked, " without 

 the ornaments or the exaggeration of poetry and fable." "Storks build," ho says, " in 

 the prefecture of Eyderstede, in the southern part of Jutland: and men may be taught 

 ' by looking upon them. In a retired part of Eyderstede, some leagues from Toningen, 

 towards the German Sea, there are clusters of trees. Among these they build; and if 

 any creature comes near them in the nesting season, which lasts near three montlis, (hey 

 go out in a body to attack it. The peasants never hurt them, and they are in no fear 

 of them. 



" The two pauents guard and feed each brood, one always remaining on it, while the 

 other goes for food. They keep the young ones much longer in the nest than any other 

 bird, and after they have led them out of it by day, they bring them back at night ; 

 preser\'ing it as their natural and proper home. 



" When they first take out the young, they practise them to fly ; and they lead them 

 to the marshes, and to the hedge-sides, pointing them out the frogs, and serpents, and 

 lizards, which are tlnnr proper food ; and they seek out toads, which they never eat, and 

 take great pains to make the young distinguish them. In the end of autumn, not being able 

 to bear the winter of Denmark, they gather in a great body about the .sea-coasts, as we see 

 swallows do, and go oft' together : the old ones leading the young ones in the centre, and 

 a second body of the old behind. They return in spring, and betake themselves in 

 families to their several nests. The people of Toningen and the neighbouring coasts 

 gather togetlier to see them come ; for they are superstitious, and form certain jh'osages 

 from the manner of their tliglit. At this time it is not uncommon to sec several of the 

 old birds, who are tired and feeble with the long flight, supported at times on the backs 

 of the young; and the peasants speak of it as a certainty, that many of these are, when 

 they return to their home, carefully laid in their old nests, and cherished by tlic youiig 

 ones which they reared with .so iTiuch care the spring before." 



The stork is easily tamed, and may be trained to reside in gardens, wliich il will drar 

 of reptiles and insects. Tliough grave in its air, it may be roused by example into a 

 certain degree of gaiety, ileriiiajin relates that he saw some children in a gai-den, 

 playing al hide and seek : n tame stork joined the parly, ran its turn when touched, and 



• Henumont. 



