CICONIA ' ALBA. 



(The White Stork.) 



" According to Arab tradition, Storks are Mirabuts turned into birds for a 

 great sin ; and therefore they, even now, like to dwell on the cupolas of the 

 mosques, and to sit upon the crescent. All over the East they are hurt by 

 nobody." ('The Tricolor on the Atlas in Algeria/ by Francis Pulszky, 

 p. 109.) 



" In Holland, Denmark, and Northern Germany it is everywhere a 

 welcome guest, and is known as a fire-fowl and baby-bringer. It is a bird of 

 passage, coming with the storms, departing with them. He is the attendant 

 and messenger of the goddess, with whom he arrives in spring ; and his red 

 legs mark him also as a servant of the fire-god. In Hesse a waggon-wheel 

 (emblem of the sun) is laid upon the roof for the Stork to make his nest 

 on. The house on which he builds is safe from fire, even though the neigh- 

 bourhood be burned down. He must not be killed, for he is a sacred 

 bird; nor should his nest be disturbed, lest the house be struck with 

 lightning." (' Indo-European Tradition and Folk-lore,' by Walter K. 

 Kelly, p. 89.) 



During the late war between France and Germany, the following appeared 

 in the 'Times,' Oct. 25, 1870: — " We heard a story of communication 

 between Old and New Breisach having been, up to within the last few days, 

 entirely dependent on a Stork, who had a home in both towns, and who 

 was in the habit of flying from one place of abode to another, burdened 

 with letters and newspapers ; but the Prussian commandant discovered the 

 existence of this novel postman, and clipped his wings." 



In the ' Nile Tributaries of Abyssinia,' by Sir S. Baker, ch. xxii. p. 547, 

 is the following remarkable statement : — " We made a direct cut across the 

 flat country, to cross the Rahad and arrive at Abou Harraz on the Blue Nile. 



