98 THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



The American Bittern is a smaller bird than ours, and the 

 main distinction is in the primaries, which are uniform greyish 

 brown and not barred as in the Common Bittern. There is, 

 too, less black on the head and back, the markings, though 

 profuse, being finer. The food, voice, and general habits are, 

 in the main, similar to those of our bird. The colours of the 

 soft parts differ little from those of the Common Bittern. 

 Length, 24 ins. Wing, 12 ins. Tarsus, 3'5 ins. 



Family CICONIID^. Storks. 



Long-legged, strong billed-birds ; slight membrane at base of 

 front toes ; no pectination on middle claw. 



White stork. Ciconia ciconia (Linn.). 



The White Stork (Plate 38) is a Avell-known inhabitant of 

 Holland, Germany, and southern Scandinavia, where it is 

 protected and encouraged to nest on and amongst the houses, 

 being a useful scavenger ; meat, alive or dead, pleases the 

 Stork. It occurs throughout most of Europe and western Asia, 

 as well as north Africa, and in winter reaches South Africa. 

 In spite of the fact that it nests freely in Holland, it is only 

 known in England as an irregular visitor on passage migration ; 

 it has most frequently appeared in East Anglia, but has been 

 noted in Scotland and Ireland, usually on spring passage. 



Familiarity with pictures may cause error ; Herons are 

 often called Storks. The White Stork is a tall, stately bird, 

 dignified in movements, white with black flight feathers, 

 scapulars, and greater coverts, and with very red bill and legs. 

 In western Europe the arrival in spring and departure at 

 the end of August of the migratory Stork create as much 

 interest as the movements of the Swallow and Cuckoo here. 

 The bird moves by day, usually at a great height, flying 



