3-8 REPTILES AND BIRDS 



When the Stork has attached itself to a place, and is kindly 

 treated, it sometimes gives up the habit of migrating. It cannot 

 however, quite get rid of agitation when the season for departure 

 comes. Occasions have been known where it yielded to the appeals 

 of its wild companions and to the desire for progeny (for in captivity 

 it is always barren), and was allured away to join the band of travel- 

 lers. But this separation is only temporary ; next year the truant 

 returns to the old house, and again takes possession of its domicile. 

 It exhibits great pleasure in renewing acquaintance with former 

 friends, and is not long in placing itself on a footing of familiarity 

 with them. It frolics with the children, caresses the parents, plagues 

 the dogs and cats in a word, manifests a gaiety and susceptibility 

 of affection which one would hardly expect to find in a bird generally 

 dull and taciturn. It presents itself at the family meals, and takes 

 its share of them. If its master tills the ground, it follows him step 

 by step, and devours the worms which are turned up by the spade 

 or the plough. 



The Stork may certainly be taken as a model for all mothers. 

 Its love for its progeny sometimes even approaches heroism. We 

 will give two touching instances. 



In 1536 a fire broke out in the city of Delft, in Holland. A 

 Stork, whose nest was placed on one of the burning buildings, made 

 at first every effort to save its young. Finally, seeing its inability 

 to assist them, it suffered itself to be burnt with the loved ones rather 

 than abandon them. 



In 1820, at another fire at Kelbra, in Russia, some Storks, when 

 threatened by the flames, succeeded in saving their nest and offspring 

 by sprinkling them with water, which they brought in their beaks. 

 This last fact proves to what extent intelligence may be produced 

 under the influence of parental love. 



The Stork is not only a good mother, but she is also an excellent 

 wife. The attachment which these birds show for each other when 

 they are once paired has long procured for them a high reputation 

 for conjugal fidelity. Thus, in the Vorarlberg (Tyrol), a male Stork 

 was known to have refused to migrate, passing several winters by the 

 side of his mate, who, in consequence of a wound in her wing, was 

 unable to fly. 



We must, however, add that some lady Storks are by no means 

 slow in consoling themselves for the loss of their husbands. A few 

 days of mourning, as a matter of form, and their grief ends. Sprungli 

 notes the case of one widowed Stork which contracted new bonds 

 after two days. Another gave evidence of the most guilty perversity. 



