354 GEALLATOEES, OE WADING BIEDS. 



montli of August in order to visit Africa, it returns in the follow- 

 ing spring. This migration is not caused by temperature, as the 

 Stork can bear the most bitter cold. No, it is a mere question 

 of sustenance ; for feeding, as it does, principally upon reptiles 

 which remain in a complete state of torpor during our winters, 

 it is naturally compelled to seek its food elsewhere. 



The Stork is of a mild nature, and is easily tamed. As it 

 destroys a host of noxious creatures, it has become a useful helper 

 to man, who is not ungrateful, for he has in all ages given it 

 succour and protection. In ancient Egypt it was venerated on 

 the same score as the Ibis ; in Thessaly there was a law which 

 condemned to death any one killing these birds. Even at the 

 present day the Germans and Dutch esteem it a happy omen 

 when the Stork chooses their house as its home. They go so far 

 as to furnish it with the means of doing this, by placing on 

 the roof a box or a large wheel ; this forms the framework of 

 the nest, which the bird then finishes according to its fancy 

 with reeds, grass, and feathers. 



When the Stork has attached itself to a place, and is kindly 

 treated, it sometimes loses the habit of migrating. It cannot, 

 however, quite get rid of a certain agitation when the season for 

 departure comes : occasions have been knoM'n where it yielded to 

 the appeals of its wild companions and to the desire for progeny (for 

 in captivity it is alwaj^s barren), and was allured away to join the 

 band of travellers. But this separation is only temporary ; 

 the next year the truant returns to the same house, and again 

 takes possession of its domicile with many a flapping of 

 wings to testify its joy. It exhibits great pleasure in renewing 

 acquaintance with the denizens of the house, 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 

 the cats — in a word, manifests a gaiety and susceptibility of 

 affection which one would hardly expect to find in a bird gene- 

 rally so 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. 



