818 
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE STORK. 
is a welcome visitant — stalking about the crowded thoroughfares with 
perfect confidence. He has a happy gift of adapting himself to circum- 
stances, and will build his nest in the forest-shades, or in detached trees 
near the habitations of man, or on the cottage-roof, and among the 
chimneys of the house-top. A rude and ungainly-looking nest it is, 
composed of sticks, dry twigs, and similar materials ; and as it is used 
by generation after generation, and every year undergoes repairs and 
receives additions, it becomes in time a truly formidable structure. In 
marshy districts, where he renders great service by destroying snakes 
and other reptiles, the inhabitants frequently provide him with an eyrie 
— erecting a tall pole, and fixing to the summit a wheel, horizontally 
placed. The Dutch place large boxes for his accommodation on the 
roofs of their houses ; and fanatical as they are in their care for 
external cleanliness, they never complain of the filth accumulated by 
the stork. 
Brehm is of opinion that he is a bird of considei'able dignity. His 
step is slow and measured ; he holds his body erect, like a well- 
disciplined soldier ; his flight is slow, but easy, graceful, and above all 
remarkable for the beautiful spiral lines which it describes. Sometimes 
he runs, but this is a mode of progression he cannot long maintain 
without fatiofue ; while he can walk for several hours in succession — 
being, in fact, the " Captain Barclay " of birds. Nor does he seem to 
suffer from sustained flight : he beats his wings slightly, and now and 
then gives some sudden rapid strokes ; but he shows a wonderful 
deofree of skill in availinsf himself of the wind or of aerial currents. 
Wliile hovering, he can rise or sink at pleasure, fi'om the dexterity with 
which he manages his tail — executing by means of that organ every 
possible change of direction. 
There can be no question that he is a very sagacious fellow. As we 
have said, he possesses the useful gift of adapting himself to circum- 
stances. In this respect no bird is his equal. He can detect at once 
the feelings of the inhabitants of a place towards him, and knows, as if 
by instinct, whether they are willing to tolerate him — whether his 
presence is agreeable. When he first arrives in a new neighbourliood 
he is prudent, wary, retiring ; he avoids man, and mistrusts everything; 
