from the
gate, there were not half the fine fat frogs that Mr. Adjutant might
have found on his own side of the gate. Whatever he saw, certainly the
bird longed to get through. He poked his head through the bars as far as
he could on one side, took two steps to the other and tried that, back
again to the first, and so on, till that foolish, foolish bird had
walked twenty times to and fro. Then he went off in a huff, and stood on
one leg near the tank till dark, when it is to be hoped he recovered his
temper. About the same hour next day back came the adjutant to repeat
his yesterday's performance, except that he walked slowly round the tank
instead of standing on one leg when he found it a failure. Perhaps he
was thinking the thing over. He did not think to much purpose, for day
after day for more than a week back came the adjutant to walk like a
soldier on duty up and down, up and down, poking his head through the
bars each time. Sometimes he did it a score of times, sometimes only two
or three. After ten days he disappeared. Where is he? Has he gone to
find a blacksmith among the adjutants? or have his brother adjutants had
him shut up till he has sense to know the best way for a bird with wings
is, not to try to get through narrow bars, but to fly over the top?"

Unlike its white cousin, the Black Stork rather avoids the society of
man, frequenting solitary places and building its nest on the very top
of the very tallest trees. It is really, however, not an unamiable bird,
as was proved by Colonel Montagu in the case of one which he managed to
catch by means of a slight wound in the wing, and which lived with him
for upwards of a year. It used to follow its feeder about, and displayed
a most inoffensive disposition. With other birds it was on terms, of
peace, and goodwill, never threatening them with its big, strong bill.
An excellent angler, its skill in capture was seen to greatest advantage
when it had to encounter an unusually slippery eel.

Canon Tristram observed black storks among the shallows of the Dead Sea,
to which their prey was brought down by tributary streams. Surely no
picture more suggestive of utter solitude could be imagined than this of
the black storks, lovers of loneliness, fishing on the silent shores of
the Dead Sea.

JAMES A. MANSON.

The Children's Own Garden.

THE CHILDREN'S OWN GARDEN IN JULY.

[Illustration]

July being generally the hottest month of the year, plenty of w