OF BIRDS. 
241 
It has a grave air, and a mournful visage: yet, when rous- 
ed by example, it shews a certain degree of gaiety, for it 
joins the frolics of children, by imitating them. 
Storks are birds of passage, and observe great exact- 
ness in the time of their autumnal departure from Eu- 
rope, to more favourite climates. They are seldom seen 
farther north than Sweden: and though they have 
scarcely ever been met with in England, they are so com- 
mon in Holland as to build every where on the tops of 
houses, where the good-natured inhabitants provide boxes 
for them to make their nests in; and are careful that the 
birds suffer no injury, always resenting this as an offence 
committed against themselves. Storks are also common 
at Aleppo, and in plenty at Seville, in Spain. At Bagdad, 
hundreds are said to be seen about the houses, walls, atjd 
trees; and at Persepolis, or Chilmanar, in Persia, the re- 
mains of the pillars serve them to build on, every pillar 
having a nest on it. 
This bird ‘bestows much time and care on the education 
of its young, and does not leave them till they have 
Strengdi sufficient for defence and support When they 
begin to flutter out of the nest, the mother bears them 
on her wings; she protects them from danger, and will 
sometimes perish rather than forsake them. 
In autumn they retire into Egypt, and the marshes 
of Barbary, where they enjoy a second summer, and 
bring up a second brood. 
Heron. ( Ardea . PL 41.) This bird is remarkably light 
in proportion to its bulk; seldom weighing more than 
three pounds and a half, although it expands a breadth 
of wing not less than five feet. Its bill is five inches long 
from the base to the point; and its claws are long, sharp, 
and formidable: but though it appears thus completely 
armed for war, it is indolent and cowardly, and even 
flies at the approach of a sparrow-hawk. In fresh water, 
however it is a perfect tyrant, and there is scarcely a fish, 
however large, that it will not strike at and wound, 
though unable to carry it away: but it subsists chiefly 
on the smaller fry, of which it devours immense quan- 
tities. 
Y 
