618 
WHITE STORK. 
Stork walks fearlessly along the streets of those 
parts, and is greatly valued by the inhabitants, as 
it clears the country of frogs, snakes, and other 
reptiles. The disposition of this bird is mild and 
placid, being very easily tamed ; it may be trained 
to reside in gardens, which it will effectually clear 
of insects and other vermin. 
The female makes a large nest composed of. 
sticks, and lays from two to four eggs, which are 
of a dirty yellowish white, the size of those of a 
Goose, but rather longer. The young are hatched 
in a month, and at first are brown: both sexes 
are said to watch them by turns, till they are able 
to take care of themselves : from this circumstance, 
and their great familiarity, many ridiculous fables 
have been invented, which it would be needless to 
repeat. 
Storks are birds of passage, and observe great 
exactness in the time of their autumnal departure 
from Europe to more congenial climates. They 
pass a second summer in Egypt and the marshes 
of Barbary. In the former country they are said 
to pair and lay again, and educate a second brood. 
Before each of these migrations they congregate 
in amazing numbers : they are for a while much in 
motion among themselves, and after making several 
short excursions, as if to try their wings, all of a 
sudden take flight, with great silence, and with 
such speed as in a moment to be out of sight. 
During these migrations they are seen in vast 
flocks. Dr. Shaw saw three flights of them leaving 
Egypt, and passing over Mount Carmel, each half 
