618 



WHITE STORK. 



Stork walks fearlessly along the streets of those 

 parts, and is greatly valued by the inhabitants, as 

 it clears the country of frogs, snakes, and other 

 reptiles. The disposition of this bird is mild and 

 placid, being very easily tamed ; it may be trained 

 to reside in gardens, which it will effectually clear 

 of insects and other vermin. 



The female makes a large nest composed of 

 sticks, and lays from two to four eggs, which are 

 of a dirty yellowish white, the size of those of a 

 Goose, but rather longer. The young are hatched 

 in a month, and at first are brown : both sexea 

 are said to watch them by turns, till they are able 

 to take care of themselves : from this circumstance, 

 and their great familiarity, many ridiculous fables 

 have been invented, which it would be needless to 

 repeat. 



Storks are birds of passage, and observe great 

 exactness in the time of their autumnal departure 

 from Europe to more congenial climates. They 

 pass a second summer in Egypt and the marshes 

 of Barbary. In the former country they are said 

 to pair and lay again, and educate a second brood. 

 Before each of these migrations they congregate 

 in amazing numbers : they are for a while much in 

 motion among themselves, and after making several 

 short excursions, as if to try their wings, all of a 

 sudden take flight, with great silence, and with 

 such speed as in a moment to be out of sight. 

 During these migrations they are seen in vast 

 flocks. Dr. Shaw saw three flights of them leaving 

 Egypt, and passing over Mount Carmel, each half 



