Storks at the
Zoological Gardens, London, are lone and melancholy birds. They seem to
take their pleasure sadly--as was once said of the English folk--but
they look so much like very wise and profound philosophers that perhaps
they view life gravely because they have themselves realised in their
own experience how serious a matter it is. In the Gardens they appear to
lead a hermit's existence. They are treated with severe neglect by the
bulk of the visitors, though possibly they consider the respect of an
occasional distinguished Royal Academician of greater value than the
homage of an indifferent multitude.

Yet in other lands than ours the Stork family is held in high honour. In
many parts of the Continent they are encouraged to build their nests in
chimneys, steeples, and trees near dwellings. Indeed, as an inducement
to them to pitch their quarters on the houses, boxes are sometimes
erected on the roofs, and happy is the household which thus secures the
patronage of a stork. Some of the people among whom they sojourn during
the warm summer days regard the presence of the bird as a kind of
safeguard against fire. And as an illustration of their love for their
young, a story is told of a stork which, rather than desert its helpless
offspring during a conflagration in Delft, in Holland, remained
heroically by their side and perished with them in the flames.

[Illustration]

In Morocco and in Eastern countries also storks are looked upon as
sacred birds. And with good reason, for they render very useful service
both as scavengers and as slayers of snakes and other reptiles. In most
of the towns a storks' hospital will be found. It consists of an
enclosure to which are sent all birds that have been injured. They are
kept in this infirmary--which is generally supported by voluntary
contributions--until they have regained health and strength. To kill a
stork is regarded as an offence. In Sweden also the stork is held as
holy, there being a legend in that country to the effect that this bird
flew around the cross of Christ, crying "Styrka!" "Styrka!"
("Strengthen!" "Strengthen!") But, as Dr. Brewer points out, this
tradition clashes with fact, inasmuch as stork's have no voice. For the
valuable offices which they perform in the removal of garbage they are,
in some countries, protected by law. At one time the White Stork was a
pretty common bird in England, where it helped the farmers by clearing
the soil of noxious inse