452 THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 



so kind as to agree ; and a short time after, to iny extreme joy, I 

 had the pleasure of receiving this highly prized treasure. I take 

 this opportunity of expressing my warmest thanks to the gentle- 

 men of the museum committee for their great generosity, and 

 especially to Dr. Sonne for his good offices in the matter. 



This elegant bird belongs more especially to southern Asia and 

 north Africa ; it nests, however, also in the south-east of Russia, 

 and, according to Irby's Reports, it is extremely probable that it 

 does so frequently, if not regularly, in the south of Spain. 



Stork Ciconia. Both European species of this genus, the 

 White and the Black Stork, visit Heligoland. They are found in 

 Asia and Africa, though these countries possess several other more 

 or less nearly related species. The same remark applies to South 

 America. In North America none of these forms are represented. 



253. White Stork [WEISSER STORCH]. 

 CICONIA ALBA, Bechstein. 



Heligolandish : Oadeboar = local name for Stork. 

 Ciconia alba. Naumann, ix. 231. 

 White Stork. Dresser, vi. 207. 

 Gigogne blanche. Temminck, Manuel, ii. 560, iv. 369. 



German mothers and nurses are accustomed to tell young 

 children that the Stork brings the babies. In Heligoland, however, 

 this brief and simple answer would scarcely satisfy an infant of an 

 observant and critical disposition ; for whilst in this little red isle 

 the school benches are crowded with young scholars, not more than 

 one or two, very rarely, three, Storks visit the island in the course 

 of each spring. Nevertheless, inasmuch as Heligoland can show 

 so much select material among its feathered guests, it is quite 

 possible that the limited number of the Stork deputation commis- 

 sioned thither for the above mentioned purpose is compensated by 

 the special ability of its individual members. 



As is the case with most other migrants, these Storks leave 

 again on the day of their arrival. On one occasion, however, one 

 of these birds remained for several days, and was seen to carry 

 all kinds of dry vegetable matter, in large bundles, to the roof 

 of a rather high house, standing by itself. Unfortunately, the 

 latter presented no suitable spot for attaching the foundation 

 of the nest, so that, after two days, the bird relinquished its 

 unsuccessful efforts, and took its departure. It would have been 



