306 THE HEN HARRIER. 



pinnies which project from each side of its head, and bear a fanciful 

 resemblance to pens carried behind the ear by human secretaries. 



It is an inhabitant of Southern Africa, and is most valuable in de- 

 stroying the serpent race, on which creatures it most exclusively feeds. 

 Undaunted by the deadly teeth of the cobra, the Secretary Bird comes 

 boldly to the attack, and, in spite of all the efforts of the infuriated and 

 desperate reptile, is sure to come off victorious. Many other creatures 

 fall victims to the ravenous appetite of the Secretary, and in the stom- 

 ach of one of these birds which was found by Le Vaillant were discov- 

 ered eleven rather large lizards, eleven small tortoises, a great number 

 of insects nearly entire, and three snakes as thick as a man's arm. 



The nest of the Secretary is built on the summit of a lofty tree, and 

 contains two or three large white eggs. 



The ordinary length of the adult Secretary Bird is about three feet, 

 and its color is almost wholly a slaty gray. The peculiar feathers 

 which form the crest are black, as are the primaries and the feathers 

 of the thigh. There is a lighter patch toward the abdomen. The tail 

 is black, with the exception of the two central rectrices, which are gray, 

 with a white tip and a broad black bar toward their extremities, v 



We now arrive at the Harriers, probably so called because they 

 " harry " and persecute the game. Several species of this genus are found 

 in England, the most common of which is the Hen Harrier. 



The Harrier may readily be distinguished from the other hawks by 

 the manner in which the feathers radiate around the eyes, forming a 

 kind of funnel-shaped depression, somewhat similar to, but not so per- 

 fect as, that of the owl. The flight of the Harrier is very low, being 

 seldom more than a few yards above the ground, and as the bird flies 

 along it beats every bush and pries into every little covert in search of 

 prey. There are few of the smaller animals that do not fall victims to 

 the Hen Harrier, which is always ready to pick up a field-mouse, a 

 lizard, a small snake, a newt, or a bird, and will pounce upon even so 

 large a bird as a partridge or a pheasant. Sometimes it sits on a stone 

 or small hillock, and from that post keeps up a vigilant watch on the 

 surrounding country, swooping off as soon as it observes indications of 

 any creature on which it may feed. 



The flight of the Hen Harrier, although it is not remarkable for its 

 power, is yet very swift, easy, and gliding, and, as the bird quarters the 

 ground after its prey, is remarkably graceful. The Harriers prefer to 

 live on moors and similar localities, where they can pursue their rather 

 peculiar mode of hunting, and where thev may find a secluded spot 

 for a secure home. Like the kestrel, the Hen Harrier appears to have 

 regular hunting-grounds, and is very punctual in its visits. The nest 

 of this bird is generally placed under the shadow of some convenient 

 turze-bush, and is composed of a few sticks thrown loosely together, in 



