176 



It is of the same size ; it lias the same forma- 

 tion as to the bill, neck, legs, and body, ex- 

 cept that it is something more corpulent. Its 

 differences are but very slight ; such as the 

 colour, which, in the crane, is ash and black, 



rarely met with in England. It is rather larger than 

 the black stork, measuring more than three feet from 

 the extremity of the bill to the tip of the tail, and stand- 

 ing about the same height from the ground to the top of 

 its head. Its bill, which is usually of an orange red, 

 measures from seven to eight inches in length ; the 

 naked and wrinkled skin surrounding its eyes is nearly 

 of the same colour, but generally of a duskier hue ; and 

 its legs are also red. The greater part of its plumage is 

 of a clear white, which is however relieved by the strik- 

 ing contrast of the feathers covering the lower part of 

 the shoulders, the larger wing-coverts, and the quill-fea- 

 thers, thirty in number, all of which are of a glossy black, 

 with a slight metallic reflection. When fully expanded 

 the extent of the wings exceeds six feet, and in this 

 state the eight or nine primary quill-feathers offer a very 

 singular and indeed unique disposition, being separated 

 from each other so as to leave a vacant space between. 

 The feathers of the lower part of the neck are long, pen- 

 dulous, and pointed. There is little distinction in any 

 of these particulars between the male and the female ; 

 but the young have a browner tinge in their wings, and 

 their bills are of a duskier red. 



These birds have in all ages been regarded with pe- 

 culiar favour, amounting, in some countries, almost to 

 veneration, partly on account of the services which they 

 perform in the destruction of noxious animals, and in 

 removing impurities from the surface of the earth, and 

 partly on account of the mildness of their temper, the 

 harmlessness of their habits, and the moral virtues with 

 which imagination has delighted to invest them. Among 

 the ancient Egyptians the stork was regarded with a 

 reverence inferior only to that which, for similar causes, 

 was paid to the sacred Ibis, considered, and with some 

 show of reason, as one of the tutelary divinities of the 

 land. The same feeling is still prevalent in many parts 

 of Africa and the East ; and even in Switzerland and in 

 Holland something like superstition seems to mingle, in 

 the minds of the common people, with the hospitable 

 kindness which a strong conviction of its utility disposes 

 them to evince towards this favourite bird. In the latter 

 country more particularly, the protection which is ac- 

 corded to it is no more than it fairly deserves as the un- 

 conscious instrument by which the dikes and marshes 

 are relieved from a large portion of the enormous quan- 

 tity of reptiles engendered by the humidity and fertility 

 of the soil. 



On the other hand, the white stork appears to be in- 

 fluenced by the same friendly feelings towards man. 

 Undismayed by his presence, it builds its nest upon the 

 house-top, or on the summits of the loftiest trees in the 

 immediate neighbourhood of the most frequented places. 

 It stalks perfectly at its ease along the busy streets of the 

 most crowded town, and seeks its food on the banks of 

 rivers or in fens in close vicinity to his abode. In 

 numerous parts of Holland its nest, built on the chimney- 

 top, remains undisturbed for many succeeding years, and 

 the owners constantly return with unerring sagacity to 

 the well known spot. The joy which they manifest on 

 again taking possession of their deserted dwelling, and 

 the attachment which they testify towards their bene- 

 volent hosts, are familiar in the mouths of every one. 

 Their affection for their young is one of the most remark- 

 able traits in their character. It is almost superfluous to 

 repeat the history of the female which, at the conflagra- 

 tion of Delft, after repeated and unsuccessful attempts to 

 rarryoffher young, chose rather to perish with them in 

 the general ruin than to leave them to their fate: and 



HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



but in the stork is white and brown. The 

 nails of the toes of the stork also are very pe- 

 culiar, not being clawed like those of other 

 birds, but flat like the nails of a man. 



These, however, are but very slight differ- 



there are many other and well authenticated proofs of a 

 similar disposition. They generally lay from two to 

 four eggs, of a dingy yellowish white, rather longer than 

 those of the goose, but not so broad. The incubation 

 lasts for a month, the male sharing in the task during 

 the absence of the female in search of food. When the 

 young birds are hatched, they are carefully fed by their 

 parents, who watch over them with the closest anxiety. 

 As soon as they become capable of flying, the parents 

 exercise them in it by degrees, carrying them at first 

 upon their own wings, and then conducting them in 

 short circular flights around their nest. When in search 

 of food, the stork is commonly seen in its usual attitude 

 of repose, standing upon one leg, with its long neck bent 

 backwards, its head resting on its shoulder, and its eye 

 steadily fixed. Its motions are slow and measured, the 

 length of its steps corresponding with that of its legs. In 

 flight its head and neck are directed straight forwards, 

 and its legs extended backwards j an awkward and ap- 

 parently constrained position, but that which is best cal- 

 culated for enabling it to cleave the air with rapidi'ty. 

 The large extent of its wings and the comparative light- 

 ness of its body are also admirably adapted to the lofty 

 pitch at which it flies, and to its long continuance upon 

 the wing. The storks generally migrate about the be- 

 ginning of August, and the preparations for their de- 

 parture usually occupy several weeks. They appear 

 gradually to assemble in one spot from the whole of the 

 surrounding district to the number of many hundreds, 

 making when they meet that peculiar clattering with 

 their beaks, which appears to serve them in the place of 

 voice. As soon as their number is completed, the entire 

 body mount at once into the air, without noise or con- 

 fusion, and are speedily lost sight of in the loftiness of 

 their flight. Their departure has rarely been witnessed 

 by scientific observers ; and many incredible stories have 

 consequently been told respecting it. They return to 

 Europe in smaller bands in March and April. 



The Black Stork resembles the White in form and 

 proportions, but is somewhat smaller in size j and the hue 



of its plumage, as might be gathered from the epithets 

 applied to the two birds, is very different. But these 

 epithets, if taken strictly, are far from being correct : 

 the White Stork having, as we have seen, a portion of 

 its plumage black ; and the Black exhibiting a variety 

 of shades, of which, however, that from which it derives 

 its name is the most predominant. Its bill, like that of 

 the former bird, is full seven inches in length, and of a 

 dusky red, approaching to orange ; as are also the legs 

 and toes. The colour of the naked skin surrounding 

 the eyes is dull red, and that of the irides hazel. On 

 the head, neck, upper surface of the body and wings, 



