50 Occasional Xofes. 



VIT. — Occadonal ^^otes. 



1, Secretary Bird and Snakes. — Last week I saw a 

 Secretary Bird kill a snake three feet six inches in length. 

 It accomplished the feat with great ease, bnt made no attempt 

 to swallow its victim. This fact suggests the inference that 

 the remains of snakes found in the stomachs of specimens 

 examined may hy no means represent the number of snakes 

 killed. C. McG. Johnston. 



Eloemfontein, Aug-. 7, 1908. 



2. Depredatory Habits of Grey JIkro's (Anlca cine7'ea). 

 — 1 saw a rather unusual thing the other day. On a farm 

 in this district a Grey Heron descended on a flight of small 

 birds driven up from a mealie-putch, and seizing a Sparrow 

 by the leg tried to gulp it down, but let it go on the approach 

 of a man. I alwavs knew the bird was a good mouser, but 

 have never heard of its preying upon other birds before. 



Roland Chambers, R.M. 



Eethulie, O.R.C., 

 Aug. 2, 1908. 



;'). Prohibition to Import the Plumage and Skins of 

 Wild Birds. — The above Bill, which is the work of Lord 

 Avebury (perhaps better known as Sir John Lubbock), was 

 read a second time in the House of ('ommons on May IDth 

 and referred to a Select Committee. 



The folloAving extracts may be of some interest : — 

 " The object of this Act is to check the wanton and whole- 

 sale destruction of birds which is being carried on everywhere 

 throughout the British Empire, and in all parts of the world, 

 without regard to the agricultural, educational, and ?esthetic 

 value of birds. As a proof of the extent of the destruction 

 that at present goes on, and which is threatening the ex- 

 tinction of some of tho most beautiful species, it may be 

 mentioned that at the plume-auctions held in London during 

 the last six months of 11H)7 there were catalogued 19,742 



