Heb hasidah, meaning "kindness," indicating thus the character of the bird, which is noted for its affection for its young It is in the list of birds forbidden to be eaten by the Levitical law (Lev 11: 19; Deut 14: 18) It is like the crane, but larger in size Two species are found in Palestine, the white, which are dispersed in pairs over the whole country; and the black, which live in marshy places and in great flocks They migrate to Palestine periodically (about the 22nd of March) Jeremiah alludes to this (Jer 8: 7) At the appointed time they return with unerring sagacity to their old haunts, and re-occupy their old nests "There is a well-authenticated account of the devotion of a stork which, at the burning of the town of Delft, after repeated and unsuccessful attempts to carry off her young, chose rather to remain and perish with them than leave them to their fate Well might the Romans call it the pia avis!"
a sacred bird, according to the Swedish legend received its name from flying round the cross of the crucified Redeemer, crying Styrka! styrka! (Strengthen! strengthen!) (See Christ, in Christian Traditions ) Storks are the sworn foes of snakes Hence the veneration in which they are held They are also excellent scavengers (Stork, Anglo-Saxon, store Twill profit when the stork, sworn foe of snakes, Returns, to show compassion to thy plants Philips: Cyder, bk i Storks' Law or Lex Ciconaria A Roman law which obliged children to maintain their necessitous parents in old age, in imitation of the stork Also called Antipelargia
A stork is a large bird with a long beak and long legs, which lives near water. Any of various large wading birds of the family Ciconiidae, chiefly of the Eastern Hemisphere, having long legs and a long straight bill. a tall white bird with long legs and a long beak. Any of 17 species (family Ciconiidae) of voiceless, long-necked, mainly Old World birds. Storks are 2-5 ft (60-150 cm) tall, often with a totally or partially bald, brightly coloured head and upper neck. They fly by alternately flapping and soaring, with neck outstretched and legs trailing. Most species are diurnal, feeding on small animals in shallow water and fields; some eat carrion. Usually found in flocks, storks pair off during the breeding season, and both parents incubate the eggs. Typical storks have a straight or nearly straight bill; the four species of wood stork have a curved bill. The only U.S. stork, the wood ibis (Mycteria americana), is white, with black wings and tail and a curved bill. See also ibis; marabou
[ 'stork ] (noun.) before 12th century. Middle English, from Old English storc; akin to Old High German storah stork and probably to Old English stearc stiff; more at STARK.