THE SECRETARY BIRD.

Tus singular bird is a native of the deserts of South
Africa, where, among tracts of stunted shrubby vegetation,
on the extensive sandy plains, skirted by large forests,
it takes up its abode, preying upon the deadly snakes,
and various reptiles. The secretary has a peculiar method
of seizing upon serpents. When approaching them, it
always takes care to hold the point of one of its wings
before it, in order to parry off their venomous bites:
sometimes finding an opportunity of spurning and tread-
ing upon the serpent, or else of taking it up on its
pinions and throwing it into the air, when, by this method
its adversary is tired out; it then kills and swallows it
without danger.

Mr. Smith says, “One day I saw a secretary take
two or three turns on the wing at a little distance from
the place where I was. he bird soon settled, when
I saw that it was attentively examining an object
near the spot where it had descended. After approaching
it with great precaution, the secretary extended one of
its wings, which the bird continually agitated. I
then discovered a large serpent raising its head, and
appearing to wait the approach of the bird to dart upon
it; but a quick blow of the wing soon laid it prostrate.
The bird appeared to wait for the serpent’s raising itself,
in order to repeat the blow; but this the serpent, it
seems, did not attempt, and the secretary walking towards
it, seized it with the feet and bill, and rose into the
air, whence the bird let the serpent fall on the ground,
so that it might be securely destroyed.”