234 



ON SAFAEI 



Although when seen cantering at ease the harte- 

 beest gives an impression of being stiff and ungainly, 

 yet when they really stretch themselves out, no animal 

 possesses freer or more magnificent action, very high 

 forward. To-day while this troop were crossing my 

 front at full speed, one beast saw me, stopped dead and 





SECEETAEY {Secretarius serpeiniarius). 



turned broadside to the rest — those following, each at 

 one impulse, leaped clean over his back ! 



Another day we watched two bulls chasing — their 

 speed being terrific and long-maintained. The pursued, 

 in a quick double, fell, the pursuer at once leaping clear ; 

 but in the same instant the fallen beast was up and 

 away back with a clear gain of ten yards ! 



While lying watching an assemblage of wildebeests, I 

 was much interested to see a secretary-bird catch a small 

 snake while in full view. The bird, while among short 



