502 • CLASS AVES. 



in 1808. The storks are also said to be rare in Italy at pre^ 

 sent. Lorraine and Alsace are the countries, in France, 

 where they are most numerous. Many of them even remain 

 there permanently, especially in Lower Alsace, where they fix 

 their nests on belfries, &c. They pass into the Vosges of 

 Lorraine in September, as well as in March and April, in 

 flocks of from ten to twelve, frequent the humid meadows, 

 and retire in the evening on the most elevated trees on the 

 borders of woods. The hunters, then, who have observed 

 their course, proceed to surprise them. It is said that many 

 of them may be killed in succession, on the same tree, before 

 the band will retire. As M. Vieillot well observes, no advan- 

 tage results from this wanton sport, for their flesh is not 

 worth eating, and, therefore, rigorous prohibitory laws ought 

 to be enacted against it, as tending to the extirpation of a 

 species of great utility, and no possible detriment, to man. 



It appears that in the rainy and cold summers the white 

 storks quit the countries which they generally inhabit during 

 this season, rather than at any other time, for in the midst 

 of the summer of 1817} a prodigious number of them assem- 

 bled not far from Ulm, and departed as they are accustomed 

 to do in autumn. The same thing was observed in the same 

 summer at Rouen, but they were few in number, and are, 

 in fact, generally very scarce in that part of France. It has 

 also been remarked, that to some places they come a second 

 time, and have a second brood, which, according to the tes- 

 timony of the most aged and experienced persons, denotes 

 a fine after season. 



Mauduyt, in the " Encyclopedie Methodique,"" tells us a 

 fact, which shows how much these storks require perfect 

 liberty in the business of incubation, and in the rearing of 

 their young. Having brought from Alsace a male and 

 female, and placed tliem in a very large garden, crossed by 

 several arms of the Seine, he easily tamed them. This couple 

 lived there for many years without appearing to suffer from 



