WHITE STORK. 285 



in 1835, it is stated that a Stork had been seen a short time pre- 

 viously near that town, and was afterwards shot at Ethie House. 

 Dr Macgillivray, in referring to this specimen, mentions that the 

 occurrence of another in Aberdeenshire in the winter of 1837-38 

 was communicated to him by the Rev. James Smith, Monquhitter, 

 and likewise describes one in his work that had been shot in 

 Mainland, Shetland, and presented to the University Museum, 

 Edinburgh. In Yarrell's work on British Birds mention is made 

 of two specimens having been obtained in Shetland, and of another 

 Scotch specimen communicated to him by Mr Grant, without, 

 however, specifying either date or locality. Messrs Baikie and 

 Heddle also include the species in their catalogue a specimen 

 having been killed on South Ronaldshay, Orkney, in 1840. 



In addition to these instances, I have to record the occurrence 

 of a very fine specimen which was shot near St. Abb's Head, 

 Berwickshire, in 1848, by a fisherman, who gave it to Mr William 

 Paterson of North Berwick. This bird is still carefully preserved 

 in that gentleman's collection. I saw it shortly after its capture, 

 and have since seen it when visiting Mr Paterson in company 

 with Dr Turnbull, who takes notice of the specimen in his 

 little work on the Birds of East Lothian. 



All the foregoing examples had evidently been stragglers, driven 

 to our shores probably by the severity of the weather. Looking, 

 indeed, to the circumstance of the Stork being abundant in 

 Holland and France, and also a well-known visitant in Sweden, 

 and some of the northern parts of Russia, it appears strange that 

 the eastern coasts of Scotland especially are not visited by the 

 species when pursuing its migratory flights to and from these 

 countries. In referring to this peculiarity, Selby speaks of it as 

 " a remarkable instance of the laws which direct the migrations of 

 birds, and confine them within certain limits," probably over- 

 looking the fact that the instincts of the bird may take it where its 

 natural food (consisting chiefly of frogs and other reptiles) is most 

 plentiful. It is said, however, that in some towns in Holland and 

 Flanders the species is of great use in devouring all kinds of gar- 

 bage that might accumulate and putrify on the streets; and bearing 

 in mind this convenient habit, it might not be an unwelcome 

 invasion were a few hundred Storks to diverge from their line of 

 flight, and pass an hour or two in some of our coast towns and 

 villages. 



