on the Secretary Bird.



337



jerboa rats, in the South the leaping hare ; in both, ostriches,

bustards, and sand-grouse. In spite of Verreaux’s efforts, no further

efforts to acclimatise the Secretary seem to have been made, either in

Algeria or anywhere else.


The writer has studied some eight of these birds in captivity ;

they are a fine ornament to any collection, especially if they can be

allowed a considerable amount of freedom. Elegant and dignified,

the Secretary is remarkable for the pen-like plumes which decorate

the occiput and wave gracefully with every movement of the head ;

these plumes can be erected under sudden excitement, like the

dorsal crest of the springbok. When in good health Secretaries are

very playful, running along with wings outspi’ead in flamingo fashion,

or leaping high in the air like a game-cock. In more serious mood

they slowly patrol the ground, gaze directed sideways, carefully

inspecting grass and herbage for mouse or rat or lizard. When prey

is sighted the bird runs quickly up, striking rapid and repeated

blows with a small but powerful foot until it is subdued ; in devouring

it the Secretary holds it with the foot and tears off morsels with the

heak. These birds are amusingly expert flycatchers, portly and

heedless bluebottles being suddenly stamped flat, and carefully eaten

as diet accessories. Then the stately walk is resumed, the long tail

swaying up and down (and often from side to side) as the bird paces

the grass. When standing still the tail almost touches the ground ;

a favourite attitude is a resting position supported on one leg and

the foot of the other, the tarsus being flexed and all the toes con¬

tracted. The Secretary often rests squatted on the ground like

a game-bird, especially during the hottest part of the day. The

writer would call attention to a character apparently hitherto un¬

noticed—namely, the large beautiful eye of this species, liquid and

lustrous as that of a giraffe, the resemblance being heightened by the

“eyelashes,” composed of altered feathers.


Verreaux states the egg of the Secretary Bird to be white,

unspotted, but one now before me is cream colour, faintly marked all

over with dull rust red. In consideration of the wide range of the

species there is probably wide variation in the egg also.


Bridge House,


Sale, Manchester.



