Ciconia alba, LINNÆUS; La Cicogne blanche, BUFFON; Der Weisse
Storch, BECHSTEIN.
The stork may be considered as half domestic, since it constantly builds
on the tops of houses, on churches or towers in the midst of villages,
and even towns[124]. Its beak is long and powerful, of a blood red
colour, as are its legs and feet. It has a naked black ring round its
eyes; the wings are black; the rest of the plumage white.
OBSERVATIONS.--It is a bird of passage, which quits Europe the end of
September, and returns in April. It feeds on fish, amphibious
animals, field-mice, moles, and even weasels, which it catches coming
out of their holes. It also eats insects, especially bees, which it
catches by the beakfull on flowers. Its nest is only a heap of dry
sticks woven together, and it occupies the same nest every year,
after repairing it a little. I have been assured, that some nests
have lasted a hundred years; and the circumference often becomes
covered with sparrows and swallows' nests. The male and female never
separate, and are a true model of conjugal fidelity. If the young
ones are taken from the nest, and fed on frogs and meat, they may be
rendered so tame that they will go a league from the house, and
return again regularly. At the time of their flight, in September,
the wings of those that are to be kept through the winter should be
clipped, and they should be kept in a temperate place, as their feet
are very sensible to cold. They become so familiar that they will
enter the room during meals, to be fed on meat from the table. A
clapping with their beak expresses either anger or affection. It is
very pleasing to see a tame stork circling round the house, and
descending insensibly in a long spiral line till it reaches the
ground.