By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 



59 



harmless, but positively useful, and acts the scavenger to perfection. 

 In Scandinavia, we are informed by Mr. Lloyd, 1 that it is looked 

 upon with a kind of veneration similar to that entertained towards 

 the Swallow and Turtle-dove, because (so the legend runs) it flew 

 over the Redeemer at the Crucifixion, crying in a sympathising tone 

 " Styrk, Styrk, Styrk Honom," "strengthen, strengthen, strengthen 

 Him." Hence it derived the name of Stork, and it was in remem- 

 brance of the affectionate solicitude it evinced on this occasion, 

 that the gift was bestowed upon it of bringing peace and happiness 

 to the roof where it was allowed undisturbed to rear its young. 



This attribute is also equally assigned to it by the inhabitants of 

 Germany, but whether resulting from a similar legend to that 

 accepted in Sweden, or from some other conceit I am unable to 

 determine. It is so frequently seen on the continent by every 

 tourist, and its fearlessness permits such close observation, that it 

 will be needless to describe its appearance. It is migratory, arriv- 

 ing in Europe in the spring, and retiring to Africa where I have 

 met with it in large flocks in winter, fishing on the shallows and 

 sand-banks of the Nile. When at rest, it stands upon one leg, 

 with the neck bent backwards, the head resting on the back, and 

 the beak resting on the breast : and when alarmed, it is apt to 

 snap the mandibles of its beak together with a loud clattering 

 noise. I have the authority of Yarrell for stating that an individual 

 of this species has been killed near Salisbury. 



"Glossy Ibis." (Ibis falcinellus). The long arched beak of this 

 bird with a blunt rounded tip, at once commands recognition, and 

 its dark brown plumage glossed with a metallic lustre of green and 

 purple reflections equally arrests attention. Moreover the portion 

 of the head from the beak to the eyes is quite bare of feathers, and 

 the naked skin is of a green colour. It is the only species really 

 known in Europe, for though the celebrated Sacred Ibis, (I. religiosa) 

 has obtained a place in Mr. Bree's excellent work, 2 yet the author 

 candidly owns that its right to figure therein is extremely doubt- 

 ful : moreover it is so rare even in Egypt, that only an occasional 



1 Scandinavian Adventures, vol. ii., p. 390. 

 2 " The birds of Europe not observed in the British Isles ;" vol. iv., p. 45. 



F 2 



