THE STORKS 147 



contradiction of what we are generally told is the 

 ordinary habit of shunning their own species is 

 only another of the endless cases that I have met 

 with of the variation of the individual in absolutely 

 everything. All that can be done is to give what 

 is believed to be the average customary habit, but 

 ever be prepared for individuals contradicting the 

 rule. To dogmatise as to what a child or a bird 

 will do is always JNIarch madness. The Black Stork 

 is like his white cousin, of great use in keeping 

 down the Egyptian plague of frogs. 



