Storks ^ Cranes 231 



evidently afraid to go too far, or unable, swings round 

 on his big flopping wings, and is soon down again. 



The next day another gets on the wing, and 

 in a week all four are flying. 



Perched on the chimneys of a lovely old red 

 brick house, that was restored in the reign of 

 Elizabeth, storks look extremely picturesque ; and 

 all the storks I have ever had, have always selected 

 to roost on some particular block of chimneys. 



Every evening at about six o'clock, sometimes 

 earlier, as we sat in the garden, the storks would 

 come flapping round, sailing close over our heads 

 as we were playing croquet, until they had circled 

 sufficiently to enable them to reach their roosting 

 point. 



With the rays of the setting sun glinting on 

 their snow-white and deep black plumage, and 

 their red legs and bills, they used to excite much 

 admiration, with their forms clearly silhouetted 

 against the evening sky. 



And then on moonlight nights we used to go 

 outside and look up at them, getting a view of 

 them, with the moon as a background. 



Hans Andersen's delightful tales about the storks 

 came to one's mind. 



They used to sit like statues — each with one 

 leg up. Well ! they wouldn't have been proper 

 storks if they hadn't. 



Their morning exercises were beautiful, especially 

 in the beginning of August, when they commenced 

 to prepare for their flight to Egypt. 



