524 BRITISH BIRDS. 



Genus CICONIA. 



The genus Ciconia was established by Brissoa in 1760, in his ' Omi- 

 thologia' (v. p. 361), for a group of birds which was composed of the 

 Storks and the Cranes. The latter birds were removed by Bechstein in 

 1793, leaving this genus restricted to the Storks. The White Stork 

 (the Ardea ciconia of Linnaeus) must of necessity be accepted as the type 

 of the genus. 



The Storks may be distinguished by their long straight bills, and by 

 having the middle toe united by a web at the base to both the outer toes ; 

 they are connected with the Ibises by the genus Tantalus, in which the 

 bill is curved downwards. 



This genus contains about fifteen species, ten of which belong to the 

 Oriental and Ethiopian Regions, two to the Palsearctic, one to the 

 Australian, and two to the Neotropical Region. Two species breed in 

 Europe, both of which are rare stragglers to the British Islands. 



The Storks frequent marshy districts, fields, and plains, especially those 

 near houses and towns. They search the banks of rivers and lakes for 

 much of their food, which consists chiefly of small reptiles, fish, small 

 mammals, and insects. They walk about very sedately, and have great 

 command over themselves in the air, wheeling about very much like 

 Vultures. They build a large nest of sticks, coarse grass, &c., either on a 

 tree, rock, or building, and their eggs are rough in texture and white. 



