A TRAGEDY IN POLAND
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sin,—! came across lately a case of summary justice on a mother in Poland, which may be of interest to your readers. In the southern part of Poland there resided on the roof of a substantial home a pair of storks. In due course the founda- tions of a family were laid in the nest ; and not far away, but on a lower plane, a pair of ducks acted in a similar manner. Some thoughtless boys got a ladder and placed some of the duck's eggs in the stork's nest, removing the -stork's eggs. After a while the young ducks were hatched out by the hen stork ; but their broad bills were viewed with great concern by the other parent. He rattled his bill loudly and hopped around and then flew off. After a couple of days he reappeared with two others of his own sex. They assembled on the roof and notified their displeasure by great =Wings and other antics. Then they all flew away. After several days the anxious mother espied a large assembly in the air and the father returned accompanied by some forty other storke, who closed around. After an inspection of the family they slew both the mother stork and her ducklings.—I am, Sir, &c., Hatherop Castle, Fairford, Glos. FRANCIS CADOGAN.
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