CROWS AND ROOKS. 239 



whole fall upon one or two individuals, and put them 

 to death : when this execution has been performed, 

 they quietly disperse. 



Another and nearly similar meeting was witnessed 

 near Oggersheim, a small village on the banks of the 

 Rhine ; where, in a large meadow, every autumn, 

 the Storks assemble, to hold, (as the country people 

 call it) a council, just before their annual migration. 

 On one of these occasions, about fifty were observed, 

 formed in a ring round one individual, whose appear- 

 ance bespoke great alarm. One of the party then 

 seemed to address the conclave, by clapping its wings 

 for about five minutes. It was followed by a second, 

 a third, and a fourth, in regular succession, each, 

 like the first, clapping its wings in the same odd 

 and significant manner. At last they all joined in 

 chorus, and then with one accord fell upon the poor 

 culprit in the middle, and despatched him in a few 

 seconds. After which they rose up in a body, and 

 one, according to their custom, taking the lead, flew 

 off to the southward. This curious story is in some 

 degree corroborated by the opinion of old writers, 

 one of whom, in describing the migrations of these 

 birds, in the eastern countries, says, that when they 

 go away, the Stork that comes last to the place of 

 rendezvous, is killed on the spot by the others""". 



At Dunham, near Altrincham, in Cheshire, the 

 seat of the Earl of Stamford, there is a heronry, 

 which has existed for many years. It happened, 

 about the latter end of March, or beginning of April, 

 a few years ago, that a gentleman, riding along the 

 turnpike-road, saw, in a small field, about a mile 



* Bellonius. 



