THE WHITE STORK. 
785 
this snapping sound as soon as they are able to fly, and 
the old ones take the greatest pains thoroughly to instruct 
them in this, their language. The male bird shows his 
talent in bill-snapping most frequently and to the greatest 
advantage while courting, after his fashion; making just 
as effectual a declaration of the tender passion he feels 
towards his mate, as does the Nightingale with its 
incomparable song. 
When the nest is finished, which is usually by the begin¬ 
ning of April, the first egg is laid, the whole complement 
being from four to five in number. The eggs themselves 
are not particularly large: they, are beautifully shaped, 
smooth and fine-grained, white and slightly shiny; they 
are almost always clean. The female sits very close, and 
hatches out her brood in from twenty-eight to thirty 
days, during which time she is never seen far from the 
nest. The male keeps watch, and while his mate is 
sitting he instantly puts in an appearance should any 
danger arise, and is ready to defend her against all 
assailants. 
It has been said of the Stork that he is a very jealous 
bird, who well knows how to punish any dereliction of 
matrimonial duty. Occasional instances which have 
been related of such being the case, seem to give some 
colouring of truth to the assertion. One story is told of 
a male Stork having murdered his innocent partner, 
because he found a Goose’s egg in the nest, which had 
been placed there by the owner of the house on which it 
was built. On another occasion one of these birds is said 
to have assembled his friends together, who assisted in 
putting an end to the existence of his frail partner, after 
a tremendous battle, she having been engaged in an 
illegitimate intrigue with some other Stork. As a pendant 
