FAITHFUL TO THE NUPTIAL TIE. 395 



on the part of the parent, was dictated by instinct ; for that 

 finding herself incapable of supporting all her progeny, she 

 destroyed one of the number, that the rest might have 

 sufficient sustenance." 



The stork, like the crane, shows great attachment to his 

 mate, of which many instances are on record. In return, 

 however, he, according to popular belief, expects the strictest 

 fidelity from his partner ; and it would seem, from the 

 following anecdote, that severe punishment awaits the female 

 suspected of inconstancy. 



" Some hens' eggs were placed in a stork's nest, in lieu 

 of the others. 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 testified 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 afterwards we do not know. We shall see, 

 however, by the following, that the expected consequences 

 of such a discovery 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 vene- 

 ration 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 the old birds. In a short time the male 

 bird went off, and was not seen for two or three days, when he 

 returned with an immense crowd of his companions, who all 



