THE OREGON NATURALIST. 
Cn 
Translated for the OREGON NATURALIST, from 
die Gartenluube, 
THE BLACK STORK. 
BY A, AND Kk. MULLER. 
These birds are wholly unknown to many, 
for although they visit Germany, it is only in 
certain favored localities, chiefly in the well 
watered eastern districts, in Pommerania and 
Eastern Prussia. On account of the bira’s 
rarity a brief description of its outward appear- 
ance may prove acceptable. 
Smaller and slenderer than its white cousin, 
it exceeds the latter conside.ably in the spread 
ofits wings. It is white only on the lower 
part of the breast, the belly and the thighs. 
The remaining parts being almost black, with 
a sheen of metallic, greenish purple. The co- 
ral red of the beak, the bare spots about the 
eyes, and on the legs are most marked in the 
old specimens. 
He chooses for his residence, distant, solitary 
old forests, in the vicinity of wet or swampy 
meadows, brooks or streams, selecting an oak 
or beech for a home. The site he chooses 
must always command a good view of the sur- 
rounding country, for shyness and mistrust are 
matters of prnciple with him. » 
For this reason he generally establishes his 
family seat on the edge of some wide clearing, 
or among a cluster of o!d treesin the open, 
a dead and leafless tree being preferred. It 
rarely happens that the nest is built in thickets 
or solitary trees. Yo study this sharp sighted 
suspicious bird you will need a good hiding place 
and a good field glass. 
It is interesting and profitable, however, to 
If such 
observations are not carefully made or the pair 
observe his domestic arrangements. 
find out that they are watched, they will, for a 
time at least, exchange their nesting and feeding 
places for some more secluded locality, Changes 
ef place are often made without any apparent 
cause, 
of a 
Obstinacy, discontent or the whim 
moment may lead the birds to remove and sud- 
denly appear in some place where they have 
never been seen before. 
Charmingly beautiful are the curves in 
which the male black stork sails about, high 
above the place where his mate is brooding. 
With a steady sweep, scarcely interrupted by 
the stroke of a wing, he rises, flashing purple 
in the sunshine, and traverses the ether in ma- 
jestic cirles, often keeping up this airy play 
for hours. His flight is lighter, airyer than 
that of the white stork, and his bearing is that 
of a wilder bird. All his actions are quicker, 
nimbier and accompanied by a certain grace. 
lle explores the whole country in the vicin- 
ity of his nest, seeking his prey in wet pastures, 
willow thickets, ponds, ditches, brooks and 
vivers. He does this with great caution when 
he does not feel quite secure, showing his un- 
easiness by circling frequently around a place 
before alighting. | When alarmed he spreads 
his wings, and stretches his neck to gain a 
Then he strides along slowly, 
little 
wider view. 
slower even than his white cousin, a 
more quietly, but fully as dignified. 
His food is more varied, and he is dangerous 
to all small animals, Rodents, small Carnivora, 
Salamanders, harmless Snakes, Insects and all 
attainable birds, whatever comes in his way 1s 
caught in his beak, killed, tossed in the air 
and in falling is caught in the proper position 
to be forced down his murderous throat. 
The white stork does not catch fish, but the 
black one is an enthusiastic fisherman. He 
wades deep, rarely misses with his beak, and 
many a trout in the mountain stream is 
brought to the surface and transferred to his 
Considerable loss of game 
if the 
insaitiable crop. 
fish weuld be inevitable black storks 
were numerous. 
When at last he has succeeded in literally 
stuffing himself full he retires to his favorite re- 
treat to digest his meal in quiet. When he hasa 
family of young to support, he of course re- 
doubles his depredations and travels from the 
nest to his hunting grounds and back twice as 
often. The young, of the llack stork leave 
