THE STORKS 145 



birds' actions by reading himself into their lives, 

 the sooner he may get at the real truth of the 

 matter. I say this because I have been asked so 

 often the question, Why do the Storks behave in 

 this curious way ? I don't know, and at present I 

 don't think any man knows ; for if they are on a 

 journey the only stop you would think they would 

 make would be for rest or food, yet for hours, 

 sometimes almost for the best part of a day, they 

 do stop over one spot, and you will see these vast 

 flocks high up, so that they look like mere specks, 

 going round and round, sometimes higher, some- 

 times lower, but never going far from some unseen 

 centre of attraction till the spirit moves them ; 

 and swinging out of the great circle, they one by 

 one take their places in the wake of some chosen 

 leader to the land to which they would go. 



The White Stork makes a curious clattering 

 noise with its bill. Its food is mainly derived from 

 the water ; and frogs, a plague of which is always 

 over Egypt, are favourite morsels. 



If sailing down the river you chance on a large 

 flock resting on some sandbank, you will see a 

 picture which would be exceedingly difficult to 

 surpass in beauty and interest. The white of the 

 great masses of birds comes in fine contrast with 



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