108 HISTORY OF 



of a black colour. From the hind-head springs 

 a number of long feathers, which hang loose be- 

 hind like a pendent crest : these feathers arise by 

 pairs, and are longer as they are lower down on 

 the neck. This crest the bird can erect at plea- 

 sure ; it is of a dark colour, almost black ; the 

 webs are equal on both sides, and rather curled ; 

 and the feathers, when erected, somewhat incline 

 towards the neck : the two middle feathers of the 

 tail are twice as long as any of the rest. 



This curious bird inhabits the internal parts 

 of Africa, and is frequently seen at the Cape of 

 Good Hope ; it is also met with in the Philippine 

 islands. It principally feeds on rats, lizards, and 

 snakes, and as it is easily domesticated, it might 

 thus be rendered useful. At the Cape of Good 

 Hope it is called the snake-eater. Dr Solan der 

 has seen one of these birds take up a snake or 

 small tortoise in its claws, when dashing it from 

 thence against the ground with great violence, if 

 the victim was not killed at first, it repeated the 

 operation till that end was answered ; after which 

 it ate it up quietly.] 



CHAPTER XIII. 



THE BUTCHER-BIRD. 



BEFORE I conclude this short history of rapacious 

 birds that prey by day, I must take leave to des- 

 cribe a tribe of smaller birds, that seem from 



