328 REPTILES AND BIRDS 
When the Stork has attached itself to a place, and is kindly 
treated, it sometimes gives up the habit of migrating. It cannot 
however, quite get rid of agitation when the season for departure 
comes. Occasions have been known where it yielded to the appeals 
of its wild companions and to the desire for progeny (for in captivity 
it is always barren), and was allured away to join the band of travel- 
lers. But this separation is only temporary ; next year the truant 
returns to the old house, and again takes possession of its domicile. 
It exhibits great pleasure in renewing acquaintance with former 
friends, and is not long in placing itself on a footing of familiarity 
with them. It frolics with the children, caresses the parents, plagues 
the dogs and cats—in a word, manifests a gaiety and susceptibility 
of affection which one would hardly expect to find in a bird generally 
dull and taciturn. It presents itself at the family meals, and takes 
its share of them. If its master tills the ground, it follows him step 
by step, and devours the worms which are turned up by the spade 
or the plough. 
The Stork may certainly be taken as a model for all mothers. 
Its love for its progeny sometimes even approaches heroism. We 
will give two touching instances. 
In 1536 a fire broke out in the city of Delft, in Holland. A 
Stork, whose nest was placed on one of the burning buildings, made 
at first every effort to save its young. Finally, seeing its inability 
to assist them, it suffered itself to be burnt with the loved ones rather 
than abandon them. 
In 1820, at another fire at Kelbra, in Russia, some Storks, when 
threatened by the flames, succeeded in saving their nest and offspring 
by sprinkling them with water, which they brought in their beaks. 
This last fact proves to what extent intelligence may be produced 
under the influence of parental love. 
The Stork is not only a good mother, but she is also an excellent 
wife. The attachment which these birds show for each other when 
they are once paired has long procured for them a high reputation 
for conjugal fidelity. ‘Thus, in the Vorarlberg (Tyrol), a male Stork 
was known to have refused to migrate, passing several winters by the 
side of his mate, who, in consequence of a wound in her wing, was 
unable to fly. 
We must, however, add that some lady Storks are by no means 
slow in consoling themselves for the loss of their husbands. <A few 
days of mourning, as a matter of form, and their grief ends. Sprungli 
notes the case of one w-dowed Stork which contracted new bonds 
after two days. Another gave evidence of the most guilty perversity. 
Ps tnd) cm * 
