30 LEAVES FROM THE 



And tlie parental was equal to the filial piety of these 

 birds. Witness the true story of the devoted mother at 

 the great fire of Delft. The flames raged and crackled 

 on every side : they gained the roof, where the nest with 

 its callow young lay. The distracted parent tried in 

 vain, by every means in her power, to convey her young 

 from the danger, but her most strenuous efforts were 

 unavailing ; and then, singed with the fire, and half- 

 suffocated by the smoke, she spread her wings over 

 them, pressed them to her bosom, and perished with 

 them. 



So much for what may be termed the good moral 

 qualities of the stork ; now let us take a glance at its 

 physical structure. 



Mounted on two long bare legs covered with a scaly 

 skin, fit armour against the tooth of Cleopatra's asp, the 

 light body is justly balanced. The toes are webbed to 

 the first joint from the divarication; so that, if in wading 

 it should suddenly get out of its depth, the safety of the 

 bird is provided for. The extensive wings, framed for 

 wafting the animated vessel on its lofty aerial voyage, 

 are worked by powerful muscles; while the head, thrown 

 back by the long neck on the body, lies compact, and 

 the extended legs aid the comparatively short tail in 

 regulating the course of the animated balloon. When 

 on the feed, the neck is either stretched out, or, if the 

 bird be watching for its prey, drawn back upon the 

 shoulders, ready to dart forth the spear-like beak in a 

 moment. Serpents, lizards, fish, and frogs, are its 

 favourite food, and hence the respect in which it is held 

 by all nations, to whom it comes a welcome and regular 

 visitor. Toads it will eat if pressed by hunger, but not 

 for choice, eschewing most probably the acrid exuda- 

 tion which is discharged from the tubercles of that 

 reptile's skin. 



He who in the summer glides near the banks of what 



