26 STO/?/£S ABOUT BIRDS. 



for it to move. He would remain motionless for hours and hours, until the 

 intended victim was forced by hunger to come out of its lair ; then the hawk 

 would pounce down upon it. 



The nest of the goshawk is placed in some high tree on the outskirts of a 

 wood, and the birds will occupy it year after year. There are three or four 

 eggs, of a pale bluish white. 



THE SECRETARY BIRD. 



This very warlike-looking bird might, at first sight, be thought to belong to 

 the tribe of long-legged storks or cranes. But if you examine his curved 

 beak, }'ou will see that in reality he is a bird of prey. Indeed, some people 

 call him the " secretary eagle." 



The reason why the name " secretary " has been given him is because of 

 the crest of feathers on the back of his head, that have a fancied resemblance 

 to a pen stuck behind the ear of a person employed in writing. But he might 

 be said to have a link with another family of birds, namely, the running 

 birds. He cannot grasp like the eagle, and he does not live, like his noble 

 relative, on high mountains, or soar towards the clouds. On the contrary, he 

 keeps on the ground, and runs here and there on his long legs. So that 

 you perceive it is rather a difficult matter to find out where to place him 

 among our feathered friends. 



He is one of the most useful birds I can name, and in certain parts of the 

 world is cherished with the utmost care. I need not tell you that he does 

 not live in England ; and if he did, there would be very little for him to eat. 

 Happily we have not many snakes, except a few small harmless ones ; for 

 though you will remind me of the viper, it is very rare, and hardly ever seen 

 except in woods and solitary places. At any rate, we have none of those 

 great serpents that abound in the places where the secretary bird lives. He 

 does not object to lizards, and even beetles, by way of variety ; and as he 

 runs about on the hot, dusty plains of Africa, he finds plenty. But this is 

 child's play ; he likes best of all to do battle with a serpent. 



Many venomous snakes are found in these hot countries, and the natives 



