THESTORK. $3 



tjicy run fo fwiftly that a man cannot eafily overtake theni. As they 

 grow old, their plumage becomes darker : they are very long lived; that 

 of Leonicus Thomeus lived with him forty years. 



Their various manners of flying indicate changes in the weather; 

 always fet a centinel when on the earth during night; vigilant, even to 

 a fymbol; all (except the centinel) fleep, the head under the wing. 



White cranes are fometimps found, but rarely. 



South of the tropics are cranes, as in thefe northern parts, of the 

 fame appearance, and probably of the fame mianners. 



In America a white crane (a conftant race), but its great quill feathers 

 of the wings black, is ftronger made, larger headed, and longer billed, 

 fhan the European cranes. 



THE STORK 



RESEMBLES the crane in bill, neck, legs, and body, but is 

 Ibmething fmaller, and fomething more corpulent; in colour the 

 Itork is gliftering white and brown, or black on its wings; the nails of 

 its toes are peculiar, not clawed like thofe of other birds, but flat like 

 the human. Feet and bill red ; its long neck bent ; around the eyes a 

 naked wrinkled fkin, blackifli red. Rudiments of a membrane be- 

 tween its toes. 



The fl:ork is fllent, except a noife caufed by clacking its under chap 

 againfl: the upper : its windpipe has no convolution through the breaft- 

 bone, but is formed as ufual : preys entirely on frogs, fiflies, birds, and 

 ferpents. When flying, holds forward its head ftiff"; while its legs, extend- 

 ed backward, are alfo liifi-', as if ferving for a rudder. When refting, ftands 

 on one leg, its neck bent backward, and its head refl:ing on its flioulder ; 

 is eafily familiarised, is cleanly, has a dejected afpedb, yet is often lively, 

 and frolics with children, leaping and playing ; is long lived, lives al- 

 ways in or near towns : lays generally four eggs, dirty white and yellow. 



Are birds of paflTage ; quit Europe in Auguft ; travel to Egypt, Belon 

 fays, in troops of four or tive thoufand. Kempfer fays they are fliarionary 

 in Japan. AH aflemble on a particular day, and leave none of their com- 

 pany behind. Take their flight generally in the night : generally return 

 |- in the middle of March ; nefl:le on the tops of chimneys and houfes, as 

 ^ell as of high trees : always return to the fame nefts ; if the nefl is dc- 

 Part IV. No. 26. P . ftroyed^ 



