390 SUPERSTITIONS RESPECTING THE STORK. 



Scania and Halland to which, indeed, it would seem to be 

 almost altogether confined. But it is occasionally met with 

 in the more southern parts of Wermeland, where, to my 

 personal knowledge, five individuals wjere shot a few years 

 ago. These birds migrate ; they usually make their appear- 

 ance in Scania from the 4th to the 8th of April, and take 

 their departure from thence in August, prior to which they 

 assemble in large flocks. It is common in Denmark. Africa, 

 more especially Egypt and Barbary, would seem to be its 

 proper home. 



The common people in Sweden have some curious fancies 

 as well about the stork as the heron. The stork feeds, as 

 known, much on snakes. From the formation of its 

 stomach, however, it is believed that unless some precaution 

 were taken, the reptile, when swallowed, would, unscathed, 

 presently make its exit otherwise than by the mouth. To 

 prevent this inconvenience, the stork, therefore, before bolt- 

 ing the snake, always swallows a bit of turf, or a wisp of 

 grass, to form a stopper as it were, thereby to give fair play 

 to the digestive organs. 



As in eastern countries, the stork is, in Scandinavia, 

 looked upon with a kind of veneration. Many reasons are 

 assigned for this ; amongst the rest that, as with the 

 swallow and the turtle-dove, it at the crucifixion flew over 

 the Redeemer, crying in a sympathising tone, styrk, styrk, 

 styrk Honom ! that is, strengthen, strengthen, strengthen 

 Him. Hence it derived the name of Stork ; and it was 

 in remembrance of the affectionate solicitude it evinced on 

 this occasion, that the gift was bestowed on this bird of 

 bringing peace and happiness to the roof where it was 

 allowed undisturbed to rear its young. 



