40 cicoNims: 



For an account of the allusions made by early writers to 

 Storks in Ireland, the reader is referred to Mr. Ussher's 

 ' Birds of Ireland,' p. 170. 



The Stork in a state of nature is a most interesting 

 bird ; if unmolested it grows very tame. I have noticed 

 it in Germany and Switzerland walking about the corn- 

 fields and meadows while the men were working close 

 by. I have seen it perched contentedly on the farmers' 

 cottages and haystacks, and this bird has been observed even 

 walking about the streets, especially in the early morning, 

 before traffic becomes general. These habits may be 

 observed within easy reach of the British Isles ; a trip 



FIG. 8. WHITE STORK. 



to Holland or Germany would well repay the bird-lover 

 who wishes to make himself acquainted with the habits 

 of the White Stork. 



Flight. Storks together on the wing look beautiful, 

 especially when they soar upward until their white forms, 

 gradually growing less bird-like, ultimately seem to be- 

 come transfigured into portions of the surrounding clouds. 

 The flight, though slow, is buoyant and sustained, and 

 the great size of the bird renders it a most imposing- 

 looking creature. 



Voice. Neglecting the extraordinary habit which the 



