686 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN'. 



DEVOURING THE HEAD. 



FINAL PREPARATION, 

 ■ing the reptile under the 



ent, being discarded. The hird regurgitate.s 

 pellets of indigestible matter after the manner 

 of many other flesh-eating birds. 



It is as a snake-killer that the Secretary Bird 

 has gained its greatest renown. The most 

 fabulous tales are told of the feats of the bird 

 as a slayer of venomous serpents, but there is no 

 doubt that it bears a greatly exaggerated repu- 

 tation in that resjiect. It does, however, destroy 

 a great many of tlie cobras, vipers and other 

 poisonous reptiles that infest certain portions of 

 Africa. As the methods of attack and defense 

 of the snake killer seemed to be so inaccurately 

 reported and so greatly exaggerated, it was de- 

 termined to attempt to learn something of the 

 truth by experimenting with our captives. 



Some small garter snakes were first intro- 

 duced, all of which were quickly dispatched, 

 with little attempt at self-protection by the 

 Secretaries. Next in order we offered an active 

 blacksnake about four feet long, and then the 

 birds seemed to realize that this was no mean 

 antagonist. The male bird, warily approacli- 

 ing with wings outspread so tliat their slightest 

 forward movement would carry him out of 

 danger, found that dodging the vicious lunges 

 of the combative snake was none too easy a task. 



In avoiding the reptile, the bird raised itself 

 about two feet from the ground, its talons ex- 

 tended to protect its abdomen. It did not make 

 an attempt to receive the blow on its extended 



wing, as has been stated by various writers. 

 This dodging and feinting continued for several 

 minutes, the birds circling about their intended 

 prey, watching for an opening, but keeping well 

 out of danger. Suddenly, the right foot of the 

 male bird shot out with great force, striking 

 the rejitile fairly on the head and partially 

 stunning it. The snake was by no means in- 

 capacitated, however, and the bird found it well 

 to maintain its former caution. Soon another 

 chance presented itself, and this time tlie first 

 blow was followed very rajiidly by several more, 

 which sufficed to quiet the snake. 



In this case, the talons were too wide spread 

 to pierce the scales of the victim's head, the 

 blow being delivered flat-footed. It would not 

 go well with a Secretary' Bird whose claws be- 

 came fastened in the skin of a cobra! In such 

 battles this bird displays another ability. It's 

 blows are in general very accurately delivered, 

 and always are aimed at the victim's head. If 

 the snake's position does not change, the crush- 

 ing foot is sure to find its mark. 



When a snake is not too large to be swal- 

 lowed entire, (and this seems to include everv- 

 thing under three or four feet), its Iiead is seized 

 by the bill of its captor, and being Iield down b_v 

 the bird's foot, while the sharp inner claw comes 

 into play, the body is stretched and pulled a 

 number of times, presumably for the purpose of 

 rendering it less rigid. It is then swallowed 

 witl)out further ceremonv, and usuallv head first. 



