THE WHITE STORK. 23 



we had terrific downpours, during which the young 

 Storks sat huddled together, the water running off 

 their backs in little streams, but on no occasion did 

 the parents shelter them, and though once food was 

 brought during a storm, as soon as it was delivered, the 

 old bird left. 



Shortly after nine o'clock one morning a violent storm 

 passed over, and in its wake the wind, always a trouble, 

 increased to such violence that it was difficult to hang 

 on, and I momentarily expected the whole apparatus 

 to be blown bodily from the tree. The rain had now 

 nearly ceased, but the Storks still crouched together 

 low in the nest, not daring to stand up. Just when the 

 gale was at its height the cock returned with breakfast 

 and, although he found it no easy matter to keep his 

 footing, frequently calling upon his wings to aid him in 

 doing so, he seemed perplexed at the young ones not 

 rising to meet him, and for a time would not disgorge. 

 Finally, as they did not rise, he fed them sitting, with 

 the storm roaring through the branches (Plate 17), 

 ruffling all his feathers as he did so. Even when the food 

 was scattered over them only one ventured to rise on the 

 tarsi, the others pecking it up as they lay. 



A pair of Tree-Sparrows {Passer montanus) had their 

 nest in the bottom of the huge pile of sticks, and while 

 waiting " for the mother Stork to have the kindness to 

 bring food," their actions helped to pass the time and 

 divert attention from my cramped and aching position. 

 The very contrast between the two was interesting : the 

 dignified and stately Storks on the first floor, and the busy 

 impudent little Sparrow in the basement beneath. 

 Neither took the least notice of the other, but I saw that 

 the inherent caution of the Sparrow kept him safely out 

 of reach of his landlord's bifl. When the parents were 

 absent the Sparrows made the most of their opportunity 

 to gather any scraps of food or insects they could find on 

 the nest, and although the young ones had a dig at them 



