264 



NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



GYPOGERANID^E. Some of the characteristics of this family have already been noticed, 

 and to these we may add that the bill is shorter than the head, the upper mandible 

 arched from the very base, and nearly half covered by the cere. The neck and wings 



FIG. 124. Gypoyeranus serpentarius, secretary-bird. 



are long, the first five primaries of about equal length, and emarginate on the inner 

 webs. The tail is unusually long, the two middle feathers very much lengthened ; the 

 legs, and especially the tarsi, remarkably long, the hind toe only about half as long as 

 the outer one. The skeleton also is peculiar in several respects. 



