^'^ HiSToay or 



CHAP. III. 



THE STORK.* 



Ir we regard the Stork externally only, we shall be very apt 

 to confound it with the crane. It is oi' the same size ; it has 



* In the metliodical arrangements of Ray and Brisson the Storks formed 

 a distinct genus from the Herons and the Cranes, with Aviiich, and with 

 various other loss closely allied groups, they were united in tlie Liunean 

 nystem of classification. Later naturalists have, however, seen the necessity 

 of reverting to the older method, and of again separating these groups, 

 \vhich form in the arrangement proposed by Mr Vigors two famiUes, dis- 

 tinguished by well marked characters, and each comprehending several 

 genera of considerable numerical extent. The first of these famUies is tha 

 Gruidae, which comprise the Cranes, the trumpeter, and other nearly re- 

 lated genera, distinguished by the comparative shortness and obtuseness of 

 their bill, and the slight degree of palraation exhibited by their feet, which 

 are smaller in proportion and consequently better adapted to the terrestrial 

 habits of these birds, as the bill is to their vegetable food. The second is the 

 Ardeida, whose produced and generally pointed bill, and long, slender and 

 more deeply webbed toes, are equally well suited to their aquatic habits, 

 and to the nature of the food, cliiefly fishes and reptiles, on which they sub- 

 sist. In the latter family are comprehended not only the Storks and tho 

 Herons, but also the Spoonbills, the Ibis, and several other groups remark- 

 able as well for the singularity of their forms, as for the peculiarity of their 

 manners, and the interesting nature of many of the facts connected with 

 their history, both as regards themselves and with reference to the services 

 M'hich they actually render, or have been supposed to render to mankind. 



The distinguishing characters of the genus which at present engages our 

 attention consist in a long straight beak, broad at the base, regularly nar- 

 rowing to the point, opening to a moderate extent, and unimpressed on its 

 upper surface either with lateral furrows or with a nasal pit ; nostrils in 

 the form of a longitudinal fissure, situated near the base of the bill and di- 

 rected upwards ; tongue extremely short ; eyes surrounded by a naked skin j 

 wings broad, expanding to a great extent, and prolonged posteriorly be- 

 yond the extremity of the tail j legs reticiUated with hexagonal scales, of 

 which the uppermost are the largest ; web between the two outer of tho 

 anterior toes much more developed than that which is found at the base oi 

 the inner; posterior toe on the same level with the .anterior ones; and 

 flaws broad, flat, and obtuse, approacliing in form to the nails of man, and 

 scarcely overlapping the extremities of the toes. 



The species thus characterised are especially remarkable for the extent 

 luid regularity of their migrations, which are chiefly determined by the na- 

 ture of their food. This consists of various kinds of garbage, of worms and 

 insects, fishes and reptiles, and among the latter more particularly of frogs. 

 At the approach of the colder season, when these animals begin to conceal 

 Hicmselves in holes, in order to pass the winter in a state of torpor, the 



