CHAPTER VIII. 



THE WHITE STORK. 



A model of virtue. Ancient instances and modern explanations. Gratitude. 

 The charm of ideality. Captive Storks best in pairs. The Dutch and 

 English modes of pinioning. Delight at liberation. Jealousy, muteness, and 

 politeness. Mode of fishing. Diet. Services rendered. Sad misadventure. 

 Habits in captivity. Congregation of Storks in Sweden. Antiquated notions. 

 The Stork's departure and return. 



" WHO teachethus more than the beasts of the earth, 

 and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?"* 



Good lessons are to be learned of the Stork. Ac- 

 cording to Aldrovandi, Gratitude, Temperance (though 

 one hardly sees how that can be), Chastity, Parental 

 and Filial Affection, are virtues attributed to it of yore. 

 The old birds, when weak and infirm, are believed to 

 be sedulously fed by the young, in honourable re- 

 membrance of which, the Lex Pelargica, or law com- 

 pelling the maintenance of parents by their children, 

 derived its title from the 7rg>a^yo?, or Stork. This, say 

 ancient authors, is the ground of the respect and for- 

 bearance with which they have been treated, first by 

 the Egyptians, and subsequently by modern nations. 



The Stork foresees the imminent storming of cities, 

 and departs before the enemy enters. This fact can- 

 not be doubted, if the besiegers happen to be hard at 

 work in the month of August. Its prudence is manifest 

 in always leaving and returning to its summer haunts 



* Job xxxv. 11. 



