BRITISH BIRDS. 
33 
knees meafure eight inches, and the latter five. 
The plumage is of a bright white, except the 
quills, greater coverts, and fome of the fcapulars, 
which are black; the eyes are dark. and full, the 
orbits bare of feathers, and of a dulky reddifli hue. 
The neck is long and arched ; the feathers near 
the breaft, like thofe of the Heron, are long and 
pendulous, the fecondary quills are nearly of the 
fame length as the primaries, and when the wings 
are clofed, they cover its fliort tail. The female 
nearly refembles the male in her plumage and ge- 
neral appearance : her nefl: is made of dry fticks, 
twigs, and aquatic plants, fometimes on large trees 
or the fummits of high rocky cliffs : this, however, 
feldom happens, for the Stork prefers the neigh- 
bourhood of populous places, where it finds pro- 
tedtion from the inhabitants, who, for ages, have 
regarded both the bird and its nefl: as facred ; and 
commonly place them boxes on the tops of the , 
houfes wherein to make their nefts, to which they 
return after the moll diftant journies, and every 
Stork takes poffeffion of his own box. When thefe 
are not provided for them, they build on the tops 
of chimnies, fteeples, and lofty ruins. 
The Stork lays from two to four eggs, the fize 
and colour of thofe of a goofe, and the male and 
female fit upon them by turns. They are fingu- 
larly attentive to their young, both together never 
VoL. ILt E 
