406 SEBPENTARIID^ SEEPENTAKIUS 



defend the thighs and the body from the deadly bite, but is not 

 used as a club as is stated by Levaillant. Mr. Atmore gives an 

 instance of one being killed by the bite of a poisonous snake, the 

 fang of which had drawn blood from the point of the pinion ; but 

 such instances must be rare. As in other accipitrine birds the bones, 

 feathers, and other hard parts of the food are formed into pellets in 

 the stomach and rejected. 



The males are very pugnacious birds, especially at the breeding 

 season which is early in July or August ; each pair of birds keeps to 

 a certain fixed area of ground and resents the intrusion of any other 

 individuals within the same limits. The nest, which is a very bulky 

 structure, is used year after year and is also resorted to at night as 

 a roosting place ; it is usually placed in a thick mimosa tree, or a 

 bush on the high veld ; but where trees are available, as in Natal, 

 often in a high tree. Dr. Stark found two such nests in the upper 

 districts of Natal, both in yellow-wood trees, one 60 feet, the other 

 120 feet above the ground. 



The nest is built of sticks and sods and is lined with dry grass or 

 wood and feathers, and measures as much as 5 feet in diameter and 

 3 feet in thickness. The eggs are bluish-white, sometimes plain, 

 sometimes smeared with dirty brown ; they are somewhat pointed 

 ovals and measure on an average 3-05 x 2-25. As a rule only two 

 eggs are laid. After incubation which takes six weeks and is said 

 to be undertaken by the female alone, the young remain in the 

 nest for several months until they have got all their plumage. 

 During this period their legs are very weak and brittle and they are 

 only able to crawl about on the tarsus ; even when fully grown this 

 still remains the case and great care must be taken of individuals 

 kept in captivity lest they break their legs when alarmed ; both 

 young and adult have a guttural rattling cry very difficult to 

 describe in words. 



In captivity the Secretary Bird does very well but is easily 

 scared by strangers ; it is often kept on farms in the Colony, as it is 

 an excellent mediator in the poultry yard, keeping order among 

 unruly cocks and hens, and freeing the place of snakes and rats. 

 Sometimes, however, it developes a taste for young chickens which it 

 is difficult to eradicate. 



Mr. Sowerby, contrary to what one would expect, found the 

 Secretary Bird very good eating. 



