536 BEITISH BIRDS. 



differing principally in having the bill black, and the bare space in front 

 and behind the eye vermilion *. 



In South America a species of Stork is found (C magimri), which is 

 said to have occurred in France. It differs from our species in having 

 the bill greenish instead of red, and the upper tail-coverts black instead 

 of white. 



In England the Stork is only known by reputation; but on the con- 

 tinent it is in many places more familiarly known than any other bird. 

 The arrival of the Stork is a landmark in the calendar. The date varies 

 in different localities, and is dependent in some measure on the season. 

 In Asia Minor it arrives early in March ; but in Poland it is seldom seen 

 before the end of that month, and in South Sweden it only appears in 

 April. Before the end of August the Stork takes its departure from 

 North Europe, and by the end of September nearly all have disappeared, 

 even from Southern Europe. They migrate in flocks during the day, gene- 

 rally at a great height, and roost on trees at night during their journey. 

 The nature of their food causes them to be most abundant in marshy 

 districts, and seldom to be seen except in the plains. In some districts 

 they are extremely common. Almost every village in the valley of the 

 Danube contains its half-dozen or more Storks' nests; and from the 

 balcony of our quarters in the village of Nymphi in Asia Minor I counted 

 fourteen nests all occupied. It can scarcely be called a gregarious bird, 

 as isolated nests are quite as common as those built in what might be 

 regarded as colonies ; and a solitary Stork feeding in a swamp is a very - 

 familiar object, though I have often seen a score or more fishing together 

 in a marsh. 



There is something almost pompous in the dignified stride of the Stork, 

 as he parades up and down the pasture, occasionally pausing leisurely to 

 pick up a beetle from the ground, or standing still to preen his feathers 

 in a nonchalant manner. He is, to all appearance, a very contemplative 

 bird, and loves to stand in a very conspicuaus position, on the edge of 

 the nest, or on the gable of a house, sometimes for hours together. At 

 other times he sails round and round, with widespread motionless wings, 

 high above the village, at which time he bears a striking resemblance to 

 a Griffon Vulture. When flying across country the long broad wings are 

 moved with slow deliberate beats, but they are powerful enough to carry 

 the bird along at a considerable speed. The flight of the Stork differs 

 somewhat from that of a Heron ; the neck is stretched out instead of 



* A White Stork with a red bill is said to have been seen in China (Swinhoe, Proc. 

 Zool. Soc. 1873, p. 729j ; but as Taczanowsky received a pair of birds with three eggs, 

 obtained by Dybowsky near the mouth of the Ussuri River in South-east Siberia, which 

 he identified (Journ. Orn. 1875, p. 256) with Swinhoe's description and plate, it is probable 

 that Swinhoe's correspondent was in error. 



