BRITISH BIRDS. 33 



and full, the orbits bare of feathers, and of a dusky 

 reddish hue. The neck is long and arched; the 

 feathers near the breast, like those of the Heron, 

 long and pendulous ; secondary quills nearly of the 

 same length as the primaries, and when the wings 

 are closed, they cover its short tail. The female 

 nearly resembles the male. The nest is made of 

 dry sticks, twigs, and aquatic plants, sometimes on 

 large trees, or the summits of high rocky cliffs: 

 this, however, seldom happens, for the Stork pre- 

 fers the neighbourhood of populous places, where 

 it finds protection from the inhabitants; who, for 

 ages, have regarded both the bird and its nest as 

 sacred, and commonly place boxes for them on the 

 tops of the houses wherein to make their nests; to 

 which they return, after the most distant journies, 

 and every Stork takes possession of his own box. 

 When these are not provided for them, they build 

 on the tops of chimnies, steeples, and lofty ruins. 



The Stork lays from two to four eggs, the size 

 and colour of those of a Goose, and the male and 

 female sit by turns. They are singularly attentive 

 to their young, both together never quitting the 

 nest, Avhich is watched by one of them, while the 

 other is seeking for, and bringing provisions, 

 which the young receive with a sort of whistling 

 noise. 



Their food consists of serpents, lizards, frogs, 

 small fish, c., for which they watch with a keen 

 eye, on the margins of lakes and pools, and in 

 swamps and marshes. In low countries, abound- 

 ing with places of this description, such as Holland, 

 the vStork is a welcome visitant, and always meets 

 with a friendly reception. 



