THE STORK. 173 



some interesting particulars concerning this bird. In 

 Denmark, they build their nests among clusters of 

 trees, many of them associating together, and forming 

 a sort of community. If any animal comes near this 

 place, particularly while the females are sitting, the 

 whole society become alarmed, and they go out and 

 commence the attack in a body. When the young- 

 are hatched, the parents watch and feed them, with 

 the utmost anxiety and care. They never leave them 

 alone, but when one goes away in search of food, the 

 other stays at the nest, to see that they are warm, and 

 that no other animal comes near them. 



When the young are able to fly, the parents take 

 them out for exercise during the day, but bring them 

 back at night. In due time they lead them to the 

 marshes, and point out to them their proper food, such 

 as frogs, serpents^ and lizards. They also seek out 

 toads, which they do not eat, and take great pains lo 

 learn their young to distinguish between these rep- 

 tiles and their proper food. 



At the end of autumn, these birds come together in 

 a body, and prepare for their annual migration. Be- 

 fore they begin their flight, they arrange themselves in 

 due order, the old ones leading in front, then the young 

 ones in the middle, and then again a party of old 

 ones as a rear guard. In this order they set out on 

 their journey. 



When they return in the spring, the people assemble 

 in crowds to welcome them as the harbingers of sum- 

 mer. At this time, it is not uncommon to see several 

 16 



