portion of India, Amoorland, and probably China ; its range, therefore, is most extensive. In Ameriea it 
lias never been seen, the Atlantic sea on the west and the North Pacific on the east forming barriers which 
it never crosses. 
“ The Stork,” says Mr. Bennett, “ has in all ages been regarded with pecnliar favour, amounting in some 
countries almost to veneration, partly on account of the services it performs in the destruction of noxious 
animals and in removing impurities-from the surface of the earth, and partly on account of its mildness of 
temper, the harmlessness of its habits, and the moral virtues with which the imagination has delighted to 
invest it. Among the ancient Egyptians the Stork was regarded with a reverence inferior only to that which 
was paid to the sacred Ibis. The same feeling is still prevalent in many parts of Africa and the East ; and 
even in Switzerland and Holland something like superstition seems to mingle in the minds of the common 
people with the hospitable kindness which a strong conviction of its utility disposes them to evince towards 
this favourite bird ... In numerous parts of Holland its nest, built on the chimney-top, remains undisturbed 
for many successive years, and the owners constantly return with unerring sagacity to the same spot. The 
joy which they manifest on again taking possession of their dwelling, and the attachment which they testify 
towards their benevolent hosts are familiar to every one. They generally lay from two to four eggs, of a 
dingy yellowish white, rather longer than those of a goose, but not so broad. The incubation lasts for a 
month, the male sharing in the task during the absence of the female in search of food. When the young 
birds are hatched they are carefully fed by their parents, who watch over them with the closest anxiety. As 
soon as they are capable of flying, the parents exercise them in it by degrees, carrying them at first on their 
own wings, and then conducting them in short flights around their nest. In repose, the Stork is commonly 
seen standing upon one leg, with its long neck bent backwards and its head resting on its shoulder. Its 
motions are slow and measured, the length of its steps corresponding with that of its legs. In flight its 
head and neck are directed straight forwards, and its legs extended backwards, an awkward and apparently 
constrained position, but that which is best calculated for enabling it to cleave the air with rapidity. When 
migrating, the Storks appear gradually to assemble in one spot from the whole of the surrounding district 
to the number of many hundreds, making, when they meet, that peculiar clattering with their beaks which 
appears to serve them in the place of voice. As soon as their number is completed, the entire body mount 
at once into the air without noise or confusion, and are speedily lost sight of in the loftiness of their flight.” 
— Gardens and Menagerie of the Zoological Society delineated, \o\. i. 
“ I shall never forget,” says Mr. Gurney, Jun., “ the interest I took in a Stork’s nest at Medea, in Algeria. 
It was placed in one of two chimneys at the gable end of by no means the largest house in the town. I 
watched it for hours. The old birds were constantly repairing it and moving about the sticks ; and although 
it was small, both birds found room to stand in it at the same time. The bird leaves the nest with a spring, 
and gets quite clear before it expands its huge wings, hut does not draw in its legs, which hang down 
awkwardly at first and then stream out behind. When it alights the legs are cast upwards and sideways.” 
Speaking of the bird as observed in Palestine, the Rev. H. B. Tristram says : — “ The White Stork is a 
regular though only a passing migrant. During the whole of April it covers the land, suddenly appearing' 
in the south, and moving northwards a few miles a day. Thus we were told by some travellers who came uj) 
to Gennesaret that the whole country about Samaria was covered with Storks. Two days afterwards they 
overspread our neighbourhood, not close together, but scattered over hill and valley, plain and marsh alike, 
steadily quartering the ground, seldom near one another, but generally about a hundred yards apart, picking 
up snakes, lizards, frogs, or fish, according to the locality. Just after this I had occasion to make a six days’ 
journey to the south-east ; the Storks were everywhere, among rocks on the hills, in olive-yards, sandy 
plains, on the dunghills of villages, on the top of Neho. They remained apparently until they had cleared off 
the reptilian harvest, and departed for the north as suddenly as they came. A very few pairs here and there 
remain to breed, notably among the ruins of Gerash and Ammon, perhaps also at Cesarea. They showetl 
great confidence in man, and are never molested by the nativ^es.” 
Both sexes are alike in plumage ; hut the female is somewhat smaller than the male ; and the young, 
when fledged, do not differ from their parents except in the darker colouring of their bills and legs. 
To show the difficulty of obtaining a young chick of this species, I may mention that for ten years I 
solicited my Continental correspondents to obtain me one without success, until at length my old and valued 
friend Professor Kaup, of Darmstadt, knowing that I required it purely for a scientific purpose, not only sent 
me a specimen, but also a drawing from life, by which means I have been able to portray correctly the 
colouring of the soft parts — for which act of attention I here record my thanks. 
The u])per part of an adult, and the young, are represented of the size of life. 
