528 BRITISH BIRDS. 
month ; and when the young are hatched it is very interesting to watch 
them being fed by their parents, who disgorge half-digested food from their 
mouths to fill the hungry bills, which, even in the nest, have learnt to 
“ klapper ” with excitement. 
The eggs of the Stork are from three to five in number, dull white in 
colour, rough in texture, and with little gloss. They vary from 3:0 to 
2°72 inch in length, and from 2°2 to 2°05 inch in breadth. The eggs of | 
this bird very closely resemble those of the Black Stork, but are on an 
average larger and, when held up to the light, are yellowish white inside, 
those of the Black Stork being green. JI have an egg of this species, 
collected by Col. Irby in Spain, which is faintly blotched with pale reddish 
brown; but these markings may possibly be blood-stains. Only one brood 
appears to be reared in the year. 
In most countries the Stork is protected and is regarded as a semi- 
sacred bird, bringing good luck upon the houses where it builds its nest. 
It is a prominent character in nursery tales of various kinds, and the same 
kind of stories are told of these birds as of Rooks ; but the “Storchgericht ”’ 
is probably as legendary as the “‘ Crows’ Court.” 
The young in down of the Stork is of a nearly uniform greyish white, 
with yellowish-green bill and feet. Young in first plumage and birds of the 
year scarcely differ from adults, except that the colour of the bill, legs, and 
feet is paler and duller. Summer and winter plumage do not differ, nor 
is that of the female distinguishable from that of the male. Adult birds 
are pure white, except the primaries, the secondaries, the scapulars, and 
the larger wing-coverts, which are black. Bill, legs, and feet deep scarlet ; 
claws dark brown; irides brown; bare space round the eye black. 
Storks moult very slowly, and may be seen changing feathers at all times 
of the year, except during the breeding-season. The quill- and tail-feathers 
are only changed once in the year, a process which goes slowly forward in 
autumn and winter. Most of the small feathers are renewed in autumn, 
and very many in early spring. 
