THE SECRETARY BIRD. 



305 



is so quarrelsome that if several of these birds should be fastened to 

 the same perch, or placed iu the same cage, they will certainly fight 

 each other, and, in all probability, the conqueror will eat his van- 

 quished foe. Such an event has actually occurred, the victrix — for it 

 was a female — killing and devouring her intended spouse. 



One of these birds afforded an excellent example of the shyness above 

 mentioned. Althougli he was most kindly treated and liberally fed, 

 he used to scream in tlie most ear-piercing manner when approached, 

 even by the person who generally carried his food. The only compan- 

 ion whose presence he would tolerate was a little Skye terrier named 

 Rosy, and the two strangely-matched comrades used to execute the 

 most singular gambols together, the dog generally taking the initiative 

 and persecuting the Hawk, until she forced him to fly. 



The nest of the Sparrow Hawk is placed in some elevated spot, and 

 contains three or four eggs, rather variable in their marking, but always 

 possessing a cer- ^^^ ..-.=_ 



tain unmistak- ^^^^^ ^ ^^^ 



able character. 

 The ground tint 

 of the egg is a 

 grayish white, 

 slightly tinged 

 with blue, and a 

 number of bold 

 blotches of a 

 very dark brown 

 are placed upon 

 the s u r f a c e , 

 sometimes scat- 

 tered rather ir- 

 regularly, but 

 generally form- 

 ing a broad ring 

 round the larger 

 end. The bird 

 seldom troubles 

 itself to build a 

 new nest, but 

 takes possession 

 of the deserted 

 tenement of a 

 crow or rook. 



The very re- 

 markable Secretary Bird derives its name from the curious feathery 

 26 « U . 



The Secretary Bird {Serpentarius Secretarius). 



