THE STORK. 345 



from the following anecdote, that severe punishment 

 awaits the mother suspected of inconstancy. We do 

 not recollect where the first occurred, but the latter, 

 which was seen by numbers of the most respectable 

 persons, and communicated from the best authority, 

 lately took place near Smyrna. Some hen's eggs were 

 placed in a Stork's nest, and the others removed. The 

 female Stork, not aware of the change, sat patiently the 

 appointed number of days, till the shells were broken, 

 and the young chickens made their appearance. No 

 sooner were they seen by the old birds, than they testi- 

 fied their surprise by harsh notes and fierce looks, and 

 after a short pause, they jointly fell on the unfortunate 

 chickens, and pecked them to pieces, as if conscious of 

 the disgrace which might be supposed to attach to a 

 dishonoured nest. Whether the female suffered after- 

 wards, we do not know. We shall see, however, by the 

 following, that the expected consequences of such a dis- 

 covery might well account for the horror and indignation 

 manifested by the wondering parents. 



A French surgeon, at Smyrna, wishing to procure a 

 Stork, and finding great difficulty, on account of the 

 extreme veneration in which they are held by the Turks, 

 stole all the eggs out of a nest, and replaced them with 

 those of a hen : in process of time the young chickens 

 came forth, much to the astonishment of Mr. and Mrs. 

 Stork. In a short time Mr. S. went off, and was not 

 seen for two or three days, when he returned with an 

 immense crowd of his companions, who all assembled in 

 the place, and formed a circle, taking no notice of the 

 numerous spectators, which so unusual an occurrence 

 had collected. Mrs. Stork was brought forward into 

 the midst of the circle, and after some consultation, the 

 whole flock fell upon her, and tore her to pieces ; after 

 which they immediately dispersed, and the nest was 

 entirely abandoned. 



The following, in many respects, similar case, occurred 

 on the estate of a gentleman of large landed property 



