190 CICONIID.B. 
nesting ; for I found in Morocco on the same day (the 25th of 
April) young birds, eggs, and unfinished nests ; and, to show 
how varied is their time of migration, I saw on that day a 
flight of about a hundred, flying northwards at an immense 
height. As they passed over the " Storkery " they lowered 
themselves to within a hundred yards or so of the nests, and 
after wheeling round a few minutes, as if to see how aff'airs 
were going on, they worked up in a gyrating flight to their 
original elevation, and continued their northerly journey, 
doubtless to the great delight of the resident Storks, wlio were 
in a great state of perturbation and disturbance at the appear- 
ance of their brethren. I may here remark that Storks 
usually migrate in large flocks at a great height, with a gy- 
rating flight. The earliest date of their arrival that I noticed 
near Gibraltar was on the 11th of January; and they nearly 
all leave by the end of September, Feeding on insects of all 
kinds, mice, snakes, and other reptiles, they are most useful 
birds, and certainly deserve the protection and encouragement 
which they receive in Morocco, where they are in consequence 
excessively tame. Their grotesque actions when nesting, and 
their habit of continually clacking their bills together, making 
a noise like a rattle, render them very amusing to watch. I 
was informed by a Frenchman who had passed two years in 
the city of Morocco, that there, as well as at Fez and some 
other large towns in the Moorish Empire, there is a regular 
Storks^ hospital, and that should one be in any way injured, 
or fall from the nest, it is sent to this institution, or, rather, 
enclosure, which is kept up by subscription from wealthy 
Moors, who consider the Stork a sacred bird. I merely 
mention this story to draw attention to the subject in case of 
any future ornithologists visiting these cities ; and were not my 
informant worthy of credence, should have omitted noticing it. 
263. CicoNiA NIGRA, Linn. The Black Stork. 
Spanish. Cigiiena negra. 
" This species is much less common in the vicinity of 
Tangier than the White Stork (C. alba). They are seen 
crossing the Straits during the months of February, March, 
