388 WHITE STORK. 



easterly direction. Northward, the occurrences of this species 

 become less frequent, and in Scotland they are rare, though extend- 

 ing to the Orkneys and Shetlands ; while still fewer are known on 

 the west side of Great Britain. In Ireland six are on record. 



In Norway the White Stork has been found as far north as Bergen, 

 and is a yearly visitor to the south, where, however, it is not 

 encouraged to breed, as it is in Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Germany 

 and the greater part of Central Europe. In France, Italy, Sicily, 

 Sardinia and ^Slalta it is of irregular appearance ; but in the Spanish 

 Peninsula it nests freely on the towers and belfries of churches in 

 towns, and on the ' almiares ' or stacks of the farm-houses, as well as 

 on trees. It is equally abundant in Slavonia and the Danubian 

 Provinces, although not specially protected there ; as well as in 

 Turkey and Southern Russia ; but in Greece and the Archipelago it 

 is less common. It breeds in Asia Minor, and sparingly in Palestine, 

 which it visits in great numbers (Canon Tristram says tens of 

 thousands) on migration ; while it ranges to Central Asia and India, 

 Mr. Parker having even found it nesting as far south as Ceylon, in 

 December. In China and Japan the representative species is 

 C. boyciana, with black bill and red lores. In the west, the White 

 Stork is a wanderer to the Canaries, and it is numerous from early 

 spring to autumn in North Africa, where a few remain during the 

 winter ; but the majority pass southward — immense numbers 

 migrating through Egypt — as far as Natal and Cape Colony. 



The nest, built of sticks, and added to year by year, is usually 

 placed on buildings, or on cart-wheels set up for the use of the bird, 

 in Holland and other parts of the Continent ; but trees and the 

 ledges of cliffs are also utilized. The eggs, 3-5 in number, are 

 pure white : measurements 2*8 by 2*1 in. The yolk is of a very 

 deep orange-colour. Incubation, which lasts a month, begins by 

 March 25th in Morocco, but is later in the north. The old bird feeds 

 the young by inserting its beak within the mandibles of the nestling, 

 and then disgorging the food ; this consists of frogs, reptiles, fish, 

 grasshoppers and other insects, worms, small mammals and young 

 birds. During the breeding-season Storks keep up a constant 

 clattering with their bills. The pleasing legend of the conjugal 

 fidelity of this species is quite unfounded on fact. 



The adult has the bare skin round the eye black ; plumage white, 

 except the quills, which are black frosted with grey ; bill, legs and 

 feet red. Length 40 in. ; wing i-x, in. In the young the quills are 

 dull black, while the feet and legs are brownish-red. 



