358 



EASTERN ETHIOPIA 



XXIX 



"there were found one tortoise, eight chameleons, twelve 

 lizards of two species, three frogs, one adder, two 

 locusts, two quails, and remains of other animals " (Stark 

 and Sclater). Bones, feathers and other hard parts of 

 the food formed into pellets are ejected from the 

 stomach. In its encounters with poisonous snakes the 

 secretary bird is sometimes fatally bitten. 



The Secretary Bird (Serpent arius repttiivorwt) resembles 

 cranes and storks, but those who have carefully studied 

 its structure prefer to regard it as essentially a hawk 

 on stilts. It is a striking object on the plain. 



Ornithologists have been puzzled in regard to the 

 systematic position of this long legged bird which out- 

 wardly resembles the cranes and storks. Those who 

 have closely studied its structure prefer to regard the 

 secretary bird as essentially a hawk on stilts. 



Among birds with feathery crowns in Africa the 



