THE SECRETARY FALCON. 



THE SECRETARY FALCON. 



This bird, when standing erect, measures about three feet from the 

 top of the head to the ground. The bill is black, sharp, and crooked, 

 like that of an Eagle. The cere is white ; and round the eyes there is 

 a place bare of feathers, and of a deep orange color. The upper eye- 

 lids are beset with strong bristles, like eye-lashes. The general color 

 of the plumage is a bluish ash color ; and the ends of the wings, the 

 thighs, and vent, are blackish. The tail is somewhat ash-colored, 

 except at the end, which, for above an inch, is black, and then tipped 

 with white : the two middle feathers are twice as long as any of the 

 rest. The legs are long, brown, and stouter than those of a Heron ; 

 the claws are shortish, but crooked, and of a black color. 



The Secretary Falcon is a native of the interior parts of Africa, Asia, 

 and the Philippine Islands. 



In its general form this bird resembles, in some degree, both the 

 Eagle and the Crane ; having its head shaped like that of the former, 

 and its body somewhat like that of the latter. From the back of the 

 head spring several long dark-colored feathers, that hang loose behind 

 like a pendant crest, which the bird can erect or depress at pleasure. 

 " The Dutch (says M. Le Vaillant) gave to it the name of Secretary, 

 on account of the bunch of quills behind its head : for in Holland, 

 clerks, when interrupted in their writing, stick their pe-n in their hair 

 behind their right ear ; and to this the tuft of the bird was thought 

 to bear some resemblance." 



The Hottentots at the Cape of Good Hope distinguished this bird 

 by a name that signifies the Serpent-eater ; and it would almost seem 

 that nature had principally destined it for the purpose of confining 

 within due bounds the race of Serpents, which is very extensive in all 

 the countries that this bird inhabits. 



The mode in which it seizes these dan- 

 gerous creatures is very peculiar. When 

 it approaches them, it is always careful to 

 carry the point of one of its wings forward, 

 in order to parry off their venomous bites ; 

 sometimes it finds an opportunity of spurn- 

 ing and treading upon its antagonist, or 

 else of taking him on its pinions and 

 throwing him into the air. When, by this 

 proceeding, it has at length wearied him out, 

 and rendered him almost senseless, it kills 



8KCEETART KILLING A HJV; 



and swallows him at leisure without danger. 



M. Le Vaillant tells us, that he was witness to an engagement 

 between a Secretary Falcon and a Serpent. The battle was obstinate, 

 and was conducted with equal address on both sides. But the Serpent 

 at length feeling the inferiority of his strength, employed, in his at- 

 tempt to regain his hole, all that cunning which is attributed to the 

 tribe ; while the Bird, apparently guessing his design, stopped him on 

 sudden and cut o ff his retreat, by placing herself before him at a 



