i6o 



British Birds. 



THE 

 WHITE STORK. 



(Ciconia ciconia.) 



The Storks differ 

 from the Herons in 

 wanting the comb- 

 like edge to the claw 

 of the middle toe, and in having the 

 hind-toe raised above the level of the 

 others. The general colour is white, 

 with the scapulars, greater wing-coverts 

 and quills, black ; the bill and feet are red. 

 Although the Stork occurs commonly and 

 breeds in Holland, it is only a rare visitor 

 to Great Britain. It is found throughout 

 Central and Southern Europe, as far 

 east as Central Asia ; it also breeds in 

 suitable localities in Africa. The nest 

 is generally placed on the roof of a house, 

 except when an old cart-wheel or cradle 

 is put up for the bird's accommodation ; 

 it sometimes builds its own nest in 



The Black Stork. 



The White Stork. 



a tree. The young are scantily covered with 

 ashy-white down. The eggs are from three 

 to five in number, of a dull white colour ; they 

 measure from two-and-a-half to nearly three 

 inches in length. 



The Black Stork oc- 

 casionally visits England, 

 but does not breed with 

 us. It nests throughout 

 the greater part of Europe, but is only known 

 as a passing migrant in the south ; and it is 

 found throughout Ceritral Asia to Mongolia, 

 wintering in India and Africa. It has a red 

 bill and legs like the White Stork, but is other- 

 wise quite different in colour, being black with 

 shades of metallic purple and green, and has 

 the breast and abdomen white. It does not 



THE 



BLACK STORK. 



{Ciconia nigra.) 



