22 ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 



directed straight forwards, and its legs extended back- 

 wards ; an awkward and apparently constrained posi- 

 tion, but that which is best calculated for enabling it 

 to cleave the air with rapidity. The large extent of 

 its wings and the comparative lightness of its body 

 are also admirably adapted to the lofty pitch at which 

 it flies, and to its long continuance upon the wing. 



The Storks generally migrate about the beginning 

 of August, and the preparations for their departure 

 usually occupy several weeks. They appear gradually 

 to assemble in one spot from the whole of the sur- 

 rounding district to the number of many hundreds, 

 making when they meet that peculiar clattering with 

 their beaks, which appears to serve them in the place 

 of voice. As soon as their number is completed the 

 entire body mount at once into the air, without noise 

 or confusion, and are speedily lost sight of in the 

 loftiness of their flight. Their departure has rarely 

 been witnessed by scientific observers ; and many in- 

 credible stories have consequently been told respecting 

 it. They return to Europe in smaller bands in the 

 months of March and April. Those which remain in 

 the more northern countries during the winter, either 

 tamed or in captivity, in which state they appear per- 

 fectly contented, do not seem to suffer in the least from 

 the severity of the weather. 



