Evi] AND SYMBOLS. 109 



ground ; and as he gradually approaches the snake, he watches 

 carefully for the moment when the latter is about to spring 

 upon him, and to fix its poisonous fangs in some vulnerable 

 part of its adversary's body. But this is usually a vain 

 attempt ; as the reptile dashes upon its enemy, a sudden and 

 most violent blow from the bird's armed wing throws him 

 writhing upon the ground, and this process is repeated if the 

 snake be strong enough to return to the attack. After reduc- 

 ing his foe to a helpless condition by these tremendous blows, 

 the bird, like a victorious gladiator, proceeds to despatch his 

 opponent, whom he swallows whole if of convenient size, or 

 tears to pieces if too large to be disposed of at a single gulp. 

 He has sometimes been seen to carry up a snake, which refused 

 to die easily, to a great height in the air, and then let him 

 fall to the ground. He confers great benefits upon the inhabi- 

 tants of a region so overrun with reptiles as Southern Africa. 

 It is somewhat difficult to understand the reason for the crea- 

 tion of these poisonous reptiles, as also it is to account for the 

 introduction into our world of moral evil and its mischievous 

 progeny. The secretary bird may be taken to illustrate the 

 ve^r important truth that although Nature has produced and 

 does rear evil things she also provides adequate means for their 

 destruction. To help in the destruction of noxious reptiles we 

 have the secretary bird. For the purpose of combating the 

 vices we have the preacher and the reformer. MU. 



The Power to Reject Evil. 



It is a remarkable fact that the venom of poisonous snakes 

 (indeed any morbid and venomous virus) can be swallowed 

 with impunity. It is neither acrid nor burning, and only pro- 

 duces a sensation on the tongue analogous to that caused by 

 greasy matter. If healthy, there is a power within us to neu- 

 tralise the operation of this poison, and to reject it. The mind 

 possesses an analogous power. It may imbide moral poison, 

 but if in a healthy condition it will not appropriate it into 

 the system. RE. 



