PLATE CLXXIX. 



«poii the tops of the houfes in return for the benefits they beftow on 

 the inhabitants, in deltroying the reptiles that harbour about their 

 habitations. 



Tlie fiefli of the Stork is reputed infipid, a circuniftance that 

 may have contributed among other caufes towards the prefervation 

 of this ufeful race of birds ; for it cannot be denied, that wliere the 

 gratification of the appetite is in view, we are too apt to difregard 

 levery other ufeful property in the lower race of animals. The Stork, 

 however, palTes unmolefled, as there is no temptation to dellroy thtt 

 bird for the value of its flefh as an article of food. 



The i)efl is compofed of fticks, in which the female lays from two 

 to four eggs, that correfpond in iize with thofe of the goofe, but are 

 rather more elongated, and the colour a fordid yellow iih white. The 

 young, which are hatched in the fpace of a month, a^e at firft brown, 

 and are watched by the male and female alternately with the greateft 

 niTiduiity, 



Though very rare in Britain, the Stork obtained a place in the 

 Britiih Fauna at an early period ; a fpecimen fh* >t in Norfolk being 

 recorded by Willughby. Albin is lefs explicit th jjn might be wifhed 

 but he feems to intimate, that although this bird \vas rare in England, 

 it had occurred occafionally. " They are feldon j," obferves this writer, 

 ^* found in England in the fummer time, wit! iput being driven ovet 

 by a florm, or bronght over by fome curious perfon. I favv two of 

 thefe birds at his Grace the Duke of Chanc'jos, at Edger, in Mid> 

 dlefex." Alb. vol 2. p. 69*. 



* The author of the General Synopfis remarks, *' that .^wo inftances only are on record 

 (ifi its being nje^ with in Engkud), Willughby racBt jpna one beiujg fliot at Norfolk, 



