ANNUAL MIGRATIONS. 213 



upon each other, uttering loud cries. But the fine in- 

 stinct of maternity was vividly displayed in the stork. 

 While defending herself, or attacking her prodigious foe, 

 she never lost sight of her little ones, that lay trembling 

 and alarmed and anxious in the nest beneath, but en- 

 deavoured continually to cover them with her wings. At 

 length, when no longer able to sustain the unequal combat, 

 by a desperate effort she regained her nest, where lay her 

 expiring mate, and the nurslings, as yet too weak for flight. 

 She caught the nest in her bill, shook it forcibly, and over- 

 turned it, dashing from the top of the tower the objects of 

 her afiection, rather than allow them to fall a prey to her 

 enemy ; then, with heroic self-devotion, she fell upon the 

 wheel, where, with a blow of his cruel beak, the vulture 

 terminated her courageous existence. 



The stork is the object of protective legislation in Hol- 

 land, because it prevents the too rapid increase of frogs 

 and toads in the fens. To the Arabs it is always a wel- 

 come visitor; while the Turks and some of the Eastern 

 peoples regard it as a sacred bird, which it is forbidden 

 to kill. At Constantinople, at Cairo, and other Eastern 

 cities, it builds in the streets, and mingles familiarly and 

 fearlessly with the inhabitants. 



Their annual migrations are a remarkable event iii their 

 history. They quit the temperate countries of Europe in 

 the autumn, but prior to their departure assemble in large 

 flocks, as if for the purpose of mutual consultation and 

 deliberation; and at this time they are very noisy, con- 

 tinuously giving utterance to a singular clattering sound, 

 not unlike that of castanets, and due to the violent strik- 



