THE WHITE STORK. 25 



the strong smell of the nest, which, like that of all large 

 fish- and flesh-eating birds, was most offensive. 



The chicks were now so far advanced as to be tentatively 

 trying their wing powers in Httle flights across the nest 

 (Plate 19), after each trip being greatly elated by the 

 performance. While speaking of flight it would be well 

 to notice that it has been stated by, and often copied 

 from, a well-known authority, that the Stork leaves 

 the nest with a spring, getting quite clear before it 

 ventures to expand its huge wings. But, as I have pointed 

 out before (see Country Life, June nth, 1910), the wings 

 are raised previous to the springing upward, and not after 

 the bird has left the nest. The positions of the wings 

 in Plate 20 are somewhat difficult to follow owing to their 

 being mixed up with the dark foliage, but if carefully 

 examined, it will be seen that not only have they been 

 spread, but that the first downward beat is nearly 

 complete, while the feet are only now leaving the nest, the 

 spring being still in progress. 



