376 WHITE STORK. 



in a north-easterly direction. Northward, the occurrences of this 

 species become less frequent, and in Scotland they are rare, though 

 extending to the Shetiands ; still fewer are known on the west side 

 of Great Britain ; while in Ireland only two are on record, both from 

 CO. Cork. 



In Norway the White Stork has been found as far north as Bergen, 

 and is a yearly visitor to the south ; where, however, it is not en- 

 couraged to breed as it is in Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Holland 

 and the greater part of Central Europe. In France, Italy, Sicily, 

 Sardinia and Malta it is of irregular appearance ; but in the Spanish 

 Peninsula it nests freely on the towers and belfries of churches in 

 towns, and on the ' almiares ' or stacks of the farm-houses. It is 

 equally abundant in Slavonia and the Danubian Provinces, although 

 not specially protected there ; also in Turkey and Southern Russia ; 

 but in Greece and the Archipelago it is less common. It breeds in 

 Asia Minor, and sparingly in Palestine, which it visits in great num- 

 bers on migration ; while in summer it ranges through Persia to 

 Central Asia, and in winter to India as far south as Calcutta. In 

 China and Japan the representative species is C. boyciana, with black 

 bill and red lores. In the west, the White Stork is a wanderer to 

 the Canaries, and is numerous from early spring to autumn in North 

 Africa, where a few remain during the winter ; but the majority pass 

 southward — immense numbers migrating through Egypt — -as far as 

 Natal and Cape Colony, where a few pairs are said to breed when 

 locusts are abundant. 



The nest, built of sticks, and added to year by year, is usually 

 placed on buildings, or on cart-wheels set up for the use of the bird, 

 in Holland and other parts of the Continent ; but trees and the 

 ledges of cliffs are also utilized. The eggs, 3-5 in number, are 

 pure white: average measurements 2 "8 by 2"i in. The yolk is of a 

 very deep orange-colour. Incubation, which lasts a month, begins 

 in April or May, according to season and locality. The old bird feeds 

 the young by inserting its beak within the mandibles of the nestling, 

 and then passing from its stomach the half-digested food. This 

 consists of frogs — especially J^ana esculenta, reptiles, fish, grass- 

 hoppers and other insects, worms, small mammals and young birds. 

 During the breeding-season Storks keep up a constant clattering 

 with their bills. 



The adult has the bare skin round the eye black ; plumage 

 white, except the quills, which are black frosted with grey ; bill, 

 legs and feet red. Length 42-44 in. ;. wing 23 in. In the young 

 the quills are dull black, while the feet and legs are brownish-red. 



