60 BIRD BEHAVIOUR 



very long hook to the beak and long talons ; it 

 feeds chiefly on water-snails of the genus Ampullaria, 

 very common in shallow pond-edges in the tropics, 

 but, one would think, very queer food for a Hawk. 

 The long hook of the bill and long talons may be 

 adapted for winkle-pin and shell-grippers respec- 

 tively, but from what will be said directly it is 

 possible that the adaptation may be only apparent. 



The ways of the Bird's-nesting Eagle are still 

 more strange. This species, from South-eastern 

 Asia, has black plumage and a most peculiar foot, 

 with the claws very long except on the outer front 

 toe, which is quite dwarfed. Its habit is to sail 

 over the tree-tops looking for the nests of small 

 birds, which when found it carries off in its long 

 claws, meanwhile ransacking them for the eggs and 

 young, on which it makes its meal in mid- air. 



Eating on the wing, by the way, is quite a 

 common accomplishment with birds of prey which 

 capture light quarry ; it was quite the usual thing 

 in Calcutta to see a Kite sailing overhead and 

 tearing at something held in its talons. Once one 

 dropped a bullock's eye almost on me, having no 

 doubt found the tough morsel non-negotiable. 



Better known than the Snail- Hawk and the 

 Bird's-nester is the Secretary-bird of Africa, which 

 is, indeed, one of the best known of all birds of 

 prey. Most people are familiar with its quaint 

 appearance, as of an Eagle on stilts (I can never see 

 why it should ever have been called the Secretary 

 Vulture) ; the short toes should, however, be 



