THE LIVING WORLD. 
383 
temper, the harmlessness of their habits, and the moral virtues with which 
imagination has delighted to invest them. Among the ancient Egyptians the 
stork was regarded with a reverence 
inferior only to that which, for simi¬ 
lar causes, was paid to the sacred 
ibis, considered, and with some show 
of reason, as one of the tutelary di¬ 
vinities of the land. The same feeling 
is still prevalent in many parts of 
Africa and the East; and even in Switz¬ 
erland and in 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 favorite bird. 
In the latter country more particu¬ 
larly, the protection which is accorded 
to it is no more than it fairly deserves 
as the unconscious instrument by 
which the dikes and marshes are re¬ 
lieved from a large portion of the 
enormous quantity of reptiles engend¬ 
ered by the humidity and fertility of 
the soil. 
On the other hand, the white stork 
appears 
to be 
influ¬ 
enced 
by the same friendly feelings towards man. Un¬ 
dismayed by his presence, it builds its nest upon 
the house-top, or on the summits of the loftiest 
trees in the immediate neighborhood of the most 
frequented places. It stalks perfectly at its ease 
along the busy streets of the most crowded town, 
and seeks its food on the banks of rivers, or in 
fens in close vicinity to his abode. In numerous 
parts of Holland, its nest, built on the chimney- 
top, remains undisturbed for many succeeding 
years, and the owners constantly return with un¬ 
erring sagacity to the well-known spot. The joy 
which they manifest on again taking possession 
of their deserted dwelling, and the attachment 
horned screamer. which they testify towards their benevolent hosts, 
are familiar in the mouths of every one. Their affection for their young is one 
of the most remarkable traits in their character. It is almost superfluous to 
repeat the history of the female which, at the conflagration of Delft, after repeated 
and unsuccessful attempts to carry off her young, chose rather to perish with 
