ORDER GRALL^. 503 



cold, and without seeking any change of climate either in 

 spring or autumn, although they were habituated to make 

 pretty long circuits in the air. This proved that emigration 

 is not a matter of indispensable necessity with individuals of 

 this species, when they are supplied with sufficient food, 

 adapted to their constitution. But this coviple could not be 

 induced to multiply, though they were surrounded with very 

 lofty trees and buildings, on which they might have esta- 

 blished their nest. 



M. Hermann, of Strasbourg, has given us, in his *' Obser- 

 vationesZoologicae," several curious facts respecting the storks. 

 Some persons, near whose habitations several couples had 

 fixed their nests, informed him, that the male seemed to be 

 larger and stouter than the female. These birds used to 

 occupy themselves, by moonlight, in seeking out the neces- 

 sary materials for the construction of their nests. The same 

 naturalist also had in his possession a tame stork for a long 

 time, and thus was enabled, personally, to make many 

 interesting observations on its habits. On the approach of a 

 great dog, or on any other occasion productive of the senti- 

 ment of fear, this stork used to utter a sort of hissing noise, 

 elongating the neck, and swelling the throat, after the 

 fashion of geese. In cold weather, it did not hesitate to 

 plunge its feet in water, and it would remain entire days 

 exposed to the rain. When the thermometer was ten degrees 

 below the freezing point, it would sprinkle its belly with the 

 water, with which it had filled its bill. Notwithstanding 

 this, when water was thrown upon it, although in fine wea- 

 ther, it shook it off immediately, with as much haste as pos- 

 sible. It would often remain in the place where it passed 

 the night, resting upon its knees, with the head upright, and 

 even assume this attitude on the pavement, contracting its 

 toes in such a manner as to make them form an angle, which 

 elevated the tarsus, and hindered it from touching the ground. 

 It fed on worms, mollusca, — whose shells it first broke— 



