POLYBOROIDES TYPICUS. ‘9 
rearing for the Acclimatization Societies of Melbourne and Sydney 
trod in a small wooden bowl sunk in the ground, and instantly fell, 
breaking his leg* and wing. We spliced them both, but he died in 
ten days. We are informed that the texture of the nest is so loose, 
that the legs of the young hang through the interstices until they 
acquire sufficient strength to be bent under them, but this we have 
not found to be the case. [Mr. Atmore writes, “ I have seen several 
encounters between the Secretary Bird and snakes. If the snake 
bites a feather the bird pulls it out immediately. On one occasion I 
saw one leave off fighting and run to a pool of water, where he sud- 
denly fell down and died: on examining him I found the snake had 
drawn blood from the point of the pinion. They eat everything, 
rats, lizards, locusts, snakes, tortoises, etc.’ 2") Mr. H. Jackson says 
they sometimes lay three eggs, and that the nest is firmly built and 
lined with hair and wool. 
Mr. Henry Buckley says that the eggs in his collection vary from 
3°07 x 2°23 inches to 3 x 2°38, are pear-shaped and of a dirty white 
colour. 
Head, neck, breast, and mantle greyish-blue, slightly shaded with 
reddish-brown on the wing-coverts. Larger quills black. Throat 
white; under part of tail white, tinged with russet. Thighs black, 
tinted brown. Tail-feathers very long, black at the base, then paling 
into grey, and tipped with white; two long central tail-feathers 
bluish-grey, tipped with black and white. Crest of ten feathers 
arranged in pairs, the lesser ones at the top black and grey, the others 
black. Legs very long, toes short, claws blunt. Length, 48”; 
wing, 27”; tail, 26”. 
Fig. Vieill. & Oud. Gal. Ois. I. pl. 260. 
Sub-fam. ACCIPITRIN A. 
8. PoLyBoRomezs tyricus. Banded Gymnogene. 
Specimens of this curious bird have been procured in various parts 
of the colony—by Mr. Gird, at the Paarl; Mr. Cairncross, at 
Swellendam ; and Mr. Atmore, in the George district. Mr. Chap- 
man also found it in the interior. Mr. Gird observed his specimen 
beating over a marsh abounding in snipe. The stomach of one we 
* All who have tried to rear these birds notice this brittleness in their bones. 
We have, since the above was written, lost several more from similar causes, and 
have known them snap a leg if suddenly startled into a quick run !! 
