3o8 



HERONS, STORKS, AND IBISES 



sticks, gradually attains a height of several feet. In the absence of buildings, 

 trees or rocks are, however, adopted for nesting. The eggs, usually from three to five 

 in number, are pure white. During the breeding-season the birds keep up a constant 

 clapping noise with their beaks, and this noise not unfrequently betrays their 

 whereabouts when soaring at such a height as to be quite invisible to the naked 



eye. As an instance of the constancy displayed by the males and females of this 

 species it is stated that for three years a female which remained during the winter 

 in Europe, was visited annually by her mate, when both nested as usual. In 

 the fourth year, however, the male bird also remained with his partner during 

 the winter, and this continued for three years. Eventually both birds were shot, 

 when it was discovered that the female had been prevented from migrating by an 



