V 
A A 
yJKJ 
exterior feathers of the wings, is black. The eye-lids are 
naked ; the beak is long and reddish ; and the legs are 
of the same colour. 
The Stork so nearly resembles the Crane, that, on a 
primary view, they might be confounded together ; but 
the former has a peculiar manner by which it may easily 
be discriminated. The Stork is silent, whereas the Crane 
has a loud piercing voice ; it preys on frogs, fishes, birds, 
and serpents, while the latter shews a predilection for 
vegetables and grain. The Crane avoids the abodes of 
men ; the Stork seems to delight in human society. 
Storks are migratory and generally make their ap- 
pearance in Europe about the middle of March, when 
they build their nests on the tops of chimnies and high 
trees. They are sometimes seen on the coasts of Eng- 
land, but have never been known to breed in this 
island. 
As these birds destroy a great number of noxious rep- 
tiles, it is no wonder that different nations have evinced 
n predilection, and even a sort of veneration for them. 
The ancient Egyptians paid divine honours to the 
ibis, which is generally supposed to be a species of the 
Stork, on account of its beneficial qualities. The Dutch 
to this day are very’ solicitous for the preservation of the 
Stork, which seems to have made itself a denizen of their 
towns, building on the tops of houses without molesta- 
tion, and even resting familiarly in the streets ; protect- 
ted, it seems, by the laws as^well as the prejudices of the 
people. Indeed there are few towns on the continent, 
the situation of which is low and marshy, that have 
not the Stork as a inmate ; and every where it appears 
to be a favoui te with the vulgar. There is a black 
species, the modern ibis of Egypt, and another found in 
America, which differs little from the common Stork. 
