to say nothing of being encouraged, as it is among most of
the Teutonic races, the Stork might breed in this country.
In Ireland, which appears to be west of the line of its
migrations, there is an authentic record of a bird in the
collection of Dr. Harvey, of Cork, shot near Fermoy about
the end of May 1846; and Mr. Hackett states (Zool. s.s.
p. 524) that an example weighing 8 lbs. was killed in co.
Cork on the 7th August, 1866.
Although the White Stork does not breed in Norway, it
has been known as far north as Bergen, and it is an annual
spring visitant to the south, where it experiences a reception
as inhospitable as that of England. It breeds in the south
of Sweden; also in Denmark; and south of the Baltic the
nests are a familiar sight from Poland to Holland, Alsace,
and Lorraine, where it is encouraged and protected, as it is
throughout Central Europe. In France proper, owing to
persecution, it is now only a migrant; and in Italy, Sicily,
Saidinia, and Malta it appears to be of irregular occurrence;
but in Spain it nests freely on the towers and belfries of the
churches in the towns and cities, and on the * almiares ’ or
stacks of the farmhouses. It is equally abundant in the
Danubian Provinces, Turkey, and Southern Russia; but in
Hieece and the islands of the Archipelago it is less common.
It breeds in Asia Minor; and, sparingly, in Palestine, which
it visits in great numbers on migration ; the summer range
extending through Persia to Central Asia; and during
winter it is found in Baluchistan, and in India, according
to Blyth, as far south as Calcutta. In Mongolia, Manchuria,
Northern China, and Japan, our species is represented
by Ciconia boycicinci, in which the bill is black, and the bare
space in front and behind the eye is vermilion-red, and not
black as in our bird.
In the west, the White Stork has straggled to the
Canaiies; and is abundant from early spring to autumn
throughout Northern Africa. A few winter in Algeria,
and immense numbers migrate through Egypt. Southwards
its winter range extends to Cape Colony, and there
is tolerably good evidence that some pairs breed there,
and in Natal. It is said that their nests are built in the
neighbourhood of large swarms of young locusts, which
remain for a long time near the spot where they are
hatched, and thus afford food for the young Storks (Layard
and Sharpe’s ‘B. South Africa,’ p. 728).
The White Stork, from its familiarity, and the services
which it renders to man in some countries by the destruction
of reptiles and the removal of offal, has secured for
itself an especial protection, and an exemption from the
persecution which is the lot of the less favoured of the feathered
tribes. It stalks about in perfect confidence along
the busy streets and markets of the most crowded towns,
and seeks its food on the banks of rivers, or in fens, in the
vicinity of its abode. Its periodical return to its accustomed
nest, the home of many generations, has ever been regarded
with feelings of pleasure ; and its visits to the habitations of
man have not only been permitted, but welcomed. The
date of return depends upon the locality, and still more
upon the season. In various parts of Europe the nest of
this bird, built on the chimney top, remains undisturbed
for many succeeding years ; in Holland, and some districts
of Germany, boxes and old cart-wheels are provided on
the tops of the houses; and in several continental cities,
he considers himself a fortunate man whose roof the Stork
selects for its periodical nesting-place. Mr. Benzon, writing
of Denmark, says, that if the nest is removed to another
place, the Stork takes possession of it next season ; and
sometimes a peasant sells a Stork’s nest to a neighbour, so
as to bring him luck. The structure, composed of sticks
and other coarse materials, is shallow, but being added to
year by year, it sometimes attains the height of five or six
feet. It is generally placed on buildings, but trees, and
the ledges of cliffs, are sometimes selected. The eggs, from
three to five in number, are pure white; the average measurements
being 2-8 by 2'1 in. The yolk is of a very deep
orange-colour. After a month’s incubation the young are
hatched, and, with great care, attended and watched alternately
by the parents until fully fledged and able to provide