Genus CICONIA.
Gen. Char. B ea le long, straight, strong and pointed. N o s tr ils pierced longitudinally in the
horny substance. E y e s surrounded by a naked skin. L e g s long. F e e t four-toed, three toes
before, united by a membrane to the first joint. W ings moderately large, the first quill
shorter than the second, and the second shorter than the third, fourth, or fifth, which are
the longest.
WHI T E STORK.
C ico n ia alb a, B e llo n .
L a C ig o g n e blanche.
From its familiarity, and the services which it renders to man in the destruction o f reptiles and the removal
o f offal, the Stork has ever insured for itself an especial protection, and an exemption from the persecution
which is the lot o f the less favoured o f the feathered tribes. Its periodical return to its accustomed summer
quarters,— to its nest, the home o f many generations,— has ever been regarded with feelings o f pleasure ; and
its intrusion within the precincts o f man has not only been permitted but sanctioned with welcome. The Stork
is a bird o f passage, but its range is not extensive. Egypt and the northern line o f Africa appear to afford it
a winter retreat: with the return o f summer it revisits Europe, but seldom ventures far northwards, and only
occurs accidentally in the British Isles. Its scarcity in this country may perhaps be attributed rather to the
drainage o f our marshes, and the comparative difficulty o f procuring food, than to anything uncongenial in the
climate. Holland is its favourite place o f residence, to which we may add the low tracts o f Germany, Prussia,
France, and Italy. Spain appears to be one o f its winter retreats, numbers frequenting Seville at that season,
“ when,” says Dillon, “ almost every tower is peopled with them, and they return annually to the same
nests.” Instead o f being shy and distrustful, the Stork is confiding and bold, as i f aware o f its privileges;
hence it may be seen on the house-tops in towns and villages, whence it wings its way to the neighbouring
fields and swamps in search o f food, and returns again to roost. Steeples, tall chimneys, elevated buildings,
and also decayed trees, are the localities chosen for the site o f its nest, a cumbrous mass o f sticks and
coarse materials. The eggs are generally three in number, o f a pale yellowish white.
The food o f the Stork consists o f the various aquatic reptiles and insects which swarm in its favourite
localities: its appetite is, however, somewhat indiscriminate,— snakes, mice, moles, worms, and offal being
greedily devoured. With the setting in o f the winter months, when the resources upon which it relies are no
longer available,— when the morasses and swamps are frozen, and the ground is'covered with snow,— the
Storks assemble in vast multitudes, and prepare for a southward flight. Immense flocks, during the performance
o f this journey, are often seen in the air, passing over the country, o f which instances are recorded
by many writers. Like other birds o f passage, it most probably begins the journey at the hour o f midnight.
The males and females are alike in their plumage, having every part o f a pure white, except the scapularies
and wings, which are black; the skin round the eye is also black; the beak and feet are reddish orange.
The young have the black more inclining to dull brown.
Our figure represents an adult bird, half its natural size.