26o BIRDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



-head, and swallowed whole. The writer, having repeatedly 

 -been a witness of the performance, has just described what 

 he has seen, and not copied what he heard at second hand. 

 The secretary vulture makes a nest of sticks in a lofty 

 tree, lays generally three round white eggs, and feeds its 

 young with large insects, as well as with snakes and other 

 reptiles. 



THE PELICANS 



Are represented in Africa, as in most parts of the globe. 

 We select the following : — 



Fami ly — Pelccatiidtr. 



Genus — Pelecanus. P. nifcscens. 



Red-Back KD Pelican. — There are few birds that bear a 

 more striking resemblance to each other, some slight varia- 

 tions in size and colour alone serving to distinguish one 

 " species " from another. The one under consideration has 

 the back feathers of a ruddy tinge, otherwise it might very 

 well pass, as regards size and shape, for any of the rest, 

 which are too well known to need detailed description. 



THE DARTERS. 



Not numerous, and principally confined to America and 

 Asia. However, they are not without a representative in 

 British Africa. 



Family — Plotidce. 



Genus — P lotus. P. Icvaillanti, 



Levaillant's Darter. — This bird has the long, thin, 

 or narrow, head and the extended neck, that so vividly 



