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The Elector Frederic the Fifth, and Elizabeth of England, of whose attachment and misfortunes every stone of the Castle of Heidelberg is a relic.

Keysler says, “Velleda was celebrated as a prophetess amongst the Germans. Tacitus names her and Auriniæ as objects of worship in the time of Vespasian. Women were believed, by the ancient Germans, to possess the gift of prophecy. The priestess Jettha dwelt in a temple, some fragments of which still existed when Frederic built the new palace of Heidelberg.” The name of the mountain has been derived from its Pagan temple (Heiden) by the learned: the peasantry derive it from the bilberries with which it abounds: Heidel.

Buffon, with his usual poetical grace, gives the most minute and interesting particulars of the Stork and its habits. He describes the white variety as loving domesticity, while the black is solitary and seeks desolate places: he speaks of the welcome that attends the familiar bird, and of its content amidst crowded cities, where the noise and bustle are as indifferent to it as to the sparrow.

“The body is of a brilliant white, but the wings are black, with reflections of violet and brown. The Greeks derived its name from its colour. It makes long voyages, even in stormy weather: arrives in Germany as early as the 9th or 10th of May, and sometimes, in Alsace, appears in March: it always returns to the same nest after absence.”

Socrates was said to be “weary of the sight of human error.”

On the Existence of Acari in Mica. By Sir D. Brewster.—“While examining with a microscope a thick plate of mica, from Siberia, about five inches long and three inches wide, he was surprised to observe the remains of minute animals, some the 70th of an inch, and others only the 150th of an inch in size. Some of these were inclosed in cavities round which the films of mica were in optical contact. These acari were, of course, not fossil, but must have insinuated themselves through openings between the plates of mica, which afterwards closed over them.”—British Association for the Advancement of Science, reported by “Athenæum,” October 6, 1855.

“Dans la moindre portion de matière se trouvent enfermés une infinité de corps tous plus petits les uns que les autres: tous decroissant par des amoindrissemens infiniment petits.” —Leibnitz.

The arrival of the Stork in Europe takes place in the Spring. In Seville it is very common; but according, to the Prince of Canino, it is very rare and only an accidental visitor near Rome. Though so common in Holland, it very rarely arrives in Britain. The ground drainage of our marshes may have something to do with this; but it is hardly sufficient to account for so striking a difference in the migratory distribution of the bird, more especially as it proceeds to higher latitudes; for it regularly visits Sweden and the north of Russia, and breeds there. The winter is passed by the bird in the more genial climates of Asia, and in the northern parts of Africa, Egypt especially. Those who have seen these birds in the act of migration, speak of their numbers as very large: thus Belon remarks, that the Storks are never seen in flocks except when they are in the air; and he relates how, being at Abydos in the month of August, a great flight of Storks came from the north, and when they reached the commencement of the Mediterranean Sea, they there made many circuitous turns, and then dispersed into smaller companies. When Dr. Shaw was journeying over Mount Carmel, he saw the annual migration of those which had quitted Egypt; and he states that each of the flocks was half a mile in breadth, and occupied three hours in passing over. The black Stork (Ardea nigra), passes the winter in the southern parts of Europe, and in spring advances to high northern latitudes to spend the summer.

Maillet (says Buffon,) speaks of seeing Storks descend at the end of April, in Higher Egypt, and pause on the Delta, which, however, the inundation of the Nile soon forced them to leave.

They appear to quit all countries when the heat becomes excessive and the banks of rivers overflow and allow no fishing on the banks.

Storks are met with in Turkey and Persia. Bruyn remarked their nest represented on the ruins of Persepolis; indeed, all over Asia they are seen, except in the desert.

Lorraine and Alsace are the provinces of France where flocks in great numbers are seen to pass, and there is scarcely a village in which they do not make their nests in the belfries.

“It is of a mild nature, neither shy nor savage, and is easily tamed. It has generally a melancholy and pensive aspect, but sometimes has been known to forget these attributes, and join in the sports of children when surrounded by and accustomed to them.” —Notes to Buffon.

The Mahommedans call the Stork bel-arje, and hold it in great esteem and veneration. It is nearly as sacred with them as the Ibis with Egyptians. Shaw says those are held as profane who should kill one or use it ill.

The fountains in Upper India are called coonds.—Tod.

There is a tradition of a Stork, whose nest being in a building which took fire, the mother bird, finding it impossible to save her young, after flying about in despair, returned at length, and perished with them in the flames.—Notes to Buffon.

In hieroglyphics the Stork signifies piety and benevolence, virtues which its name expresses in one of the most ancient languages, viz: Chasida in Hebrew.

Kœmper says that the Stork lives all the year round in Japan, which is only the country it so favours.

Storks were held in esteem by the ancients, because they purged the land of serpents and other venomous things.—Notes to Buffon.

The Crane takes longer voyages than any other bird of passage. Is known in Sweden, Scotland, Orkneys, and all Northern countries. In autumn goes to France, where seeds are just sown, and in marshy places; then on to more Southerly climes, returning in Spring, and takes the way to the North, and thus makes a circle of voyages in a circle of seasons.

The ancients called the Crane, bird of Lybia, and bird of Scythia, as it arrived from both these extremities of the then known world.

The Crane cries loud in the air; its tumultuous clamours announce a storm.

At the first cold of Autumn, the Cranes are warned to change the climate.

Those of the Danube and Germany pass to Italy. They linger long in France if the autumn is mild. —Buffon.

The people of Japan call them tsuri, and never speak of them but as o tsurisama, ‘my lord the Crane.’ —Kœmpfer.

The Crane and Tortoise are of good omen in Japan.

The Demoiselle de Numidie.—“On a donné á ce bel oiseau le nom de Démoiselle a cause de son élégance, de sa parure et des gestes mimes qu'on lui voit affecter; cette Démoiselle-oiseau s'incline en effet par plusieurs révérences. se donne bonne air en marchant avec une sorte d'ostentation et souvent elle saute et bondit par gaité comme si elle voulait danser.” —Buffon.

Aristotle calls it the comedian. Plutarch also talks of its acting, and calls its movement pantomime.

The ancients speak of it as an actor and copyist of man; it has so much vanity that it prefers showing off its graces to eating. A party of Démoiselles are described as dancing like gypsies. —See Buffon's notes.

Aristotle talks of their dancing opposite each other.

The Storks when assembled are said to be very severe to the last comer who has retarded their departure. They usually sacrifice him to their fury, by pecking him to death with their sharp bills.—Pliny.

They have been observed to meet in large flocks that covered a plain for fifteen successive days, apparently holding a council or divan, to arrange their flight.—See Shaw.

The ancients believed the Stork to be without a tongue, because of its general silence.—Notes to Buffon.

One naturalist asserts that at the bottom of the Lake of Como, multitudes of Storks in a torpid state have been found by fishermen.

Buffon considered as error the belief in the self-immersion of swallows and other birds in lakes; the instances cited by others, in support of that opinion, being, he conceives, merely exceptions or accidents. His chapter on the subject is extremely amusing and curious, full of candour, but resolute for facts, in spite of the poetry which he loves, and the traditions which he delights to allude to.

The Black Stork seeks desert places, perches in the woods, frequents isolated marshes, and makes its nest in the thickest part of forests. The white species, on the contrary, chooses our habitations as a domicile, establishes himself on towers, chimneys and the roofs of houses: the friend of man, he shares his dwelling, and even his grounds; he fishes in our rivers, hunts in our gardens, places himself in the midst of our towns, without being startled by the noise, &c.—Buffon.

The feathers of the black Stork, which is only called black to distinguish it from the white kind, are very beautiful in the light, catching violet and golden-green reflections on the dark brown ground of the wings. A very red skin surrounds the eyes.

It is wild and solitary, and loves the oldest firs, choosing the highest branches on which to perch.

A species called Jabiru, of the same family, is found on the banks of the Amazon and Orinoco. It has sometimes in its fishing excursions to combat large serpents, and is furnished by nature with arms to defend and attack its foes, having a powerful and trenchant bill, inserted like a hatchet into its large head, and a thick and nervous throat.

The Jabiru is found in Brazil, and in Guiana is called Negro. It feeds generally on the insects it finds in lonely marshes and beside rivers.

The black Stork avoids the spots frequented by the white sort, and shuns society with its species. It flies in small parties, or in pairs, and never in large flocks like the others.

Buffon adds—“We are not assured that it travels in the same manner as the white Stork, and are even ignorant whether the time of its migration is the same: nevertheless, there is every reason to believe so.”

The Huppo.—This bird bears quite a poetical character amongst ancient naturalists, its qualities being supposed to resemble those attributed to the Stork, with whom it is frequently seen in company. It was held as a good harbinger by the Egyptians, who constantly repeat its form in their hieroglyphics, and consider it, like the Stork, an emblem of filial piety.

There are several species, all remarkable, and of few birds have more fables been recounted: amongst the most famous is its supposed power of breaking evil charms, and its singular knowledge of the occult virtues of herbs.

In England and in Sweden, it was held as a bird of ill-omen. It leaves Northern climates at the same period as the Stork, and is generally found in the same regions.

The Swallow generally precedes the Stork in his annual migrations. Of this bird there are many traditions in the East. In the notes to Buffon occurs the following:—

“This year (1779) there was no snow during winter: never-theless, the swallows did not arrive in Burgundy till the 9th of April, and at the Lake of Geneva till the 14th. It is related that a shoemaker of Bâle, having put round the neck of a Swallow a collar, on which was written:

To this story the witty naturalist adds the following comment: “Ce qui est le plus probable dans cette anecdote c'est que les vers ont été fait en Suisse. Quant au fait il est plus que douteux.”

Buffon says that this beautiful bird, though originally from a warm climate, has become habituated to the cold of ours. It may be seen all the winter beside the frozen streams, often plunging beneath the ice, and re-appearing with its prey: it is called, for this reason, in Germany, eisvogel.

The most superstitious ideas were attached to the Halcyon: that it had the property of preventing thunder, of augmenting hidden treasure, and, though dead, could renew its plumage at the accustomed time. “It communicates,” says one ancient author, “to whoever carries it, grace and beauty: gives peace in a house: calm to the sea: attracts the fish, and renders the season abundant.”

“Ces fables,” adds Buffon, “flattent la credulité mais malheureusement, ce ne sont que des fables.”

The Halcyon is the most beautiful bird of our climate, from the brilliancy of the colours of its enamelled plumage.

It is sometimes called “the Nymph,” from bearing the name of Alcyone, the plaintive daughter of Eolus, so often named by the poets Euripides, Ovid, &c. Ariosto speaks thus:

“S'udir l'alcioni alla marina del' antico infortunio lamentarsi.”

The nightingale is sometimes meant in these poetical allusions, as in those of “sad Electra's poet.”

One species of halcyon is named by Cuvier as remarkable for two long feathers, which are prolonged beyond the rest of its tail, and have at their extremity a bright blue mark. This kind Seba called, from its beauty, “Nymphe de Ternate.”

Storks fly without noise or uttering cries, and leave the North the latter end of August. So rapid is their flight, when once settled in conclave, that, as they make no clamour, like many other birds, they are lost to sight instantly. —Buffon.

The flight of the Stork is powerful and sustained, like all birds that have broad wings and a short tail. As he flies he carries his head stiff and forward, and his claws extended backward as if to serve as a rudder. —Idem.

Tradition gives a pilot to the flocks of Storks, in the form of a Crow, which is supposed to be their guide to countries they are seeking.—St. Basile and Isidore.

Tradition names Jaffa as the burial-place of Noah, and where the ark rested on its return.

The rock and the ring to which Andromeda was supposed to have been chained, are imagined to have existed on this coast. —Chateaubriand.

Buffon says that this beautiful bird, though originally from a warm climate, has become habituated to the cold of ours. It may be seen all the winter beside the frozen streams, often plunging beneath the ice, and re-appearing with its prey: it is called, for this reason, in Germany, eisvogel.

The most superstitious ideas were attached to the Halcyon: that it had the property of preventing thunder, of augmenting hidden treasure, and, though dead, could renew its plumage at the accustomed time. “It communicates,” says one ancient author, “to whoever carries it, grace and beauty: gives peace in a house: calm to the sea: attracts the fish, and renders the season abundant.”

“Ces fables,” adds Buffon, “flattent la credulité mais malheureusement, ce ne sont que des fables.”

The Halcyon is the most beautiful bird of our climate, from the brilliancy of the colours of its enamelled plumage.

It is sometimes called “the Nymph,” from bearing the name of Alcyone, the plaintive daughter of Eolus, so often named by the poets Euripides, Ovid, &c. Ariosto speaks thus:

“S'udir l'alcioni alla marina del' antico infortunio lamentarsi.”

The nightingale is sometimes meant in these poetical allusions, as in those of “sad Electra's poet.”

The tradition of the Weiber-Treue is well known. The castle of Weinberg being besieged, was defended by the women as well as the men within it. When forced to surrender at length, the victors generously gave permission to the females, who had shown so much courage, to carry off with them whatever treasure they prized the most. The robust heroines each shouldered her husband, and marched down the mountain triumphantly.

The ruins of this famous castle are near Heilbronn, on the Neckar.