Sf. Quintin : Some AvicttJtiiral Notes. 207 



crooked, but their wings and legs were bent, and bowed. It 

 was nothing but want of sufficiently nourishing diet.* Since 

 that lesson, I have always seen that the ravens had a regular 

 supply of rough butcher's meat, as well as other lighter food, 

 and with the best results. Ravens are, of course, absolutely 

 omnivorous, and nothing edible comes amiss. Even hempseed 

 is readily picked up. 



The bark is easily heard on a still day, quite two miles awa\-. 

 It is strange to hear the male, who is possessed of greater vocal 

 accomplishments than his mate, after a series of coarse rever- 

 berating notes, drop his voice and exactly imitate the crooning 

 of the Jackdaws in the hollow elm tree over his head. 



The last bird I shall refer to is the Secretary-Bird, of 

 which I ha\'e two \-ery fine examples, which I am hoping will 

 turn out to be a pair. 



The Secretary-bird, besides a kind of ' roar,' has some rather 

 eagle-like notes, and his beak is that of a bird of prey, but other 

 wise he seldom betrays his relation to the Raptores, and many 

 of his ways are peculiar to himself. 



My birds came from Potchefstroom, in the Transvaal, 

 and were brought as nestlings to my friend Major Horsbrugh, 

 in a pillow-case on the back of a burgher, who had ridden on his 

 bicycle forty odd miles with this burden. They have enormous 

 appetites, and I fear gave much trouble, before they were old 

 enough to send off to England. They take an immense amount 

 of exercise, and delight in racing about in a good big enclosure, 

 which they share with some Cranes, and the Great Bustards. 

 Their movements often remind one of the aeroplane. The neck 

 is outstretched, the wings wide spread, and held without 

 flapping at such an angle that after the bird has run across the 

 field (his paddling feet representing the motor), he is sometimes 

 lifted off the ground. I ought to say this used to be the case, 

 for to my regret I found it necessary to pinion the birds, and 

 now they are not evenly balanced as before. 



They are fed twice a day, and stuff down an extraordinary 

 amount of food with fur, feather "and bone. Luckily they are 

 not particular, and all rats, moles, and even stoats and w^easels 

 are reserved for them. But a hen's egg is their special dainty 



* A peregrine or goshawk, if fed on rabbit, or even on blue-hare, is 

 quite unfit for hard work ; and though as a change of food for a hawk not 

 in training, rabbit flesh is allowable, it must not be given except as a 

 change occasionally, once or twice a week at most. 



1910 May I. 



