STORKS. 



355 



The Stork may certainly be set up as a model for all mothers : 

 its love for its young ones 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 burniDc buildino-s 

 made at first every efifort to save its progeny. Finally, seeing its 

 inability to assist them, it suffered itself to be burnt with its 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 

 3^oung ones by sprinkling them 

 with water, which they brought 

 in their beaks. This last fact 

 proves to what an extent in- 

 telligence may be excited un- 

 der the influence of maternal 

 love. 



The Stork is not only a good 

 mother, but she is also an ex- 

 cellent wife. The attachment 

 which these birds show for 

 each other when they are once 



paired has long back 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, which, 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 husbands who 



ought to be the subjects of eternal regret. A few tears, as a 



matter of form, and their grief ends ! Sprungli notes the case 



of one widowed Stork who contracted new bonds after two days' 



mourning. Another gave evidence of the most guilty perversity. 



A a2 



Fig. 137.— White Stork [Ciconia alba, Teuiru.). 



