COMMON STORK. 187 



White or Common Stork. In several parts of Europe 

 these birds are so common, that they stalk about, with- 

 out fear, in the streets of the large towns, in pursuit of 

 offal and other food. The inhabitants of Holland have 

 so great a respect for them, that, in many places, square 

 boxes are placed on the tops of the houses for the 

 purpose of enticing them to build there their nests. 

 They lay from two to four eggs, which are of a dirty 

 yellowish-white colour. The incubation lasts about a 

 month, and both the parents are .very assiduous in 

 providing food for their offspring. The disposition of 

 the Stork is peculiarly mild and placid, and its habits 

 and manners are familiar and agreeable. The ancients 

 ascribed to it many of the moral virtues ; such as tem- 

 perance, conjugal fidelity, and filial and paternal piety. 

 There is extant in Holland, a well-known story, that, 

 when the city of Delft was on fire, a female Stork 

 several times attempted, but in vain, to carry off her 

 young ones ; and, finding she was unable to effect their 

 escape, suffered herself to be consumed along with 

 them in the flames. Storks are birds of passage, and 

 about the latter end of August in every year, leave 

 Europe for the purpose of passing the winter in climates 

 which, during that season, are more congenial to their 

 nature. As soon as the whole body is v collected toge- 

 ther, a general signal is given, and they rise into the air 

 with such swiftness, that this vast body, which but a mo- 

 ment before completely covered the plain, is presently 

 lost amidst the clouds. So numerous are these birds, 

 that the late Dr. Shaw saw three flights of them leaving 

 Egypt and passing over Mount Carmel, each of which 

 was at least half a mile in breadth, and was nearly three 

 hours in passing. 



The Stork is about three feet in length, exclusive of 



