HERON. 51 



The nest of the Stork is large, composed of sticks, and the eggs 

 often four, of a dirty yellowish white, the size of those of a Goose, 

 but a trifle longer : the young are hatched in a month, and are at 

 first brown. Both sexes said to watch them by turns, till of age to 

 take care of themselves. The Stork often rests, and sleeps on one 

 leg, and makes at intervals a singular, snapping noise with the bill.* 

 The food consists of frogs, snakes, and other reptiles ; hence the 

 veneration of all sects for this bird, which frees them from these 

 pests ; added to the flesh being no temptation as food, for it is 

 allowed on all hands to be unsavoury. Dr. Chandler, in his Travels 

 in Asia,-\ makes frequent mention of Cranes ; but by his description 

 it is evident that they were not Cranes, but Storks. " The Crane, 

 *■ he says, is tall like a Heron, but larger; the body white, with 

 " black pinions; the head small, and the bill thick; he adds, that 

 " they build on walls and houses, and that the Turks hold them in 

 "veneration." All this agrees with the Stork only, and not the 

 Crane. 



15.— BLACK STORK. 



Ardea nigra, Ind. Orn. ii. 677. Lin. i. 235. Faun. Suec. No. 163. Gm. Lin. i. 623. 



Scop. i. No. 124. Brim. p. 46. Midler, p. 22. Georgi, p. 171. Borowsk. ii. 79. 



Faun. Helv. It. Poseg. 25. Spalotvsk, iii. t. 27. 

 Ciconia nigra, Eaii, 97. 2. Will. 211. t. 52. Klein,, 125. II. Id. Ov. 34. t. 18. 1. 



Gerin. iv. t. 433. Tern. Man. d'Orn. 359. Id. Ed\\. p. 561. 

 Ciconia fusca, Bris.v. 362. 1. t. 31. 7rf.8vo.ii. 304. 

 Cicogne noire, Buf. vii. 271. PI. enl. 399. Dec. russ. ii. 77. 

 Der Schwarze Storch, Bechst. Deutsch. iii. s. 56. 

 Aghirone nero, Celt. Uc. Sard. 175. 

 Black Stork, Gen. Syn. v. 50. Arct. Zool. ii. 456. D. Will. Engl. 286. pi. 52. Jib. 



ii. pi. 82. 



SIZE of a small Turkey ; length two feet nine inches. Bill five 

 inches and a half long, of a greenish grey, with a whitish tip ; the 



* In doing this the head is turned backwards, the upper part of the bill placed on the 



rump, and the under, set into the quickest motion, made to act on the other. Ives, Voy. 



3°7- t P- 96. + Archceol. xiii. p. 341. &c. 



H 2 



