2o8 Si. Qiiintin : Some AviciiUiiral Notes. 



and in eating them they have shown a good deal of intelHgence. 

 They have no intention of breaking the shell, and losing any of 

 the contents. On the contrary, the egg is to be swallowed 

 whole, and reliance is placed on the gastric juices to dissolve 

 the shell. They used to find it difficult to pick up the egg 

 when in a standing position, without cracking it, but now they 

 ilex their long legs, lay the lower mandible flat on the ground, 

 and shovel up the egg. That the egg is swallowed whole is 

 certain, for I have known one of them dispose of three eggs one 

 after the other, and when pursued by the other bird, deliver 

 them up on the grass still unbroken. 



I have never offered my birds a snake, but an eel is treated 

 with much caution as if it might be dangerous, and receives 

 many unnecessary blows long after all motion has ceased, before 

 it is swallowed. The blows with the foot are given with great 

 rapidity, and a rat released from a trap has no chance, and is 

 rolled over very neatly, getting a disabling blow, generally on 

 the head, in spite of his activity. Though their inclination is 

 to swallow their prey whole, if given too large a piece, of rabbit 

 for instance, they will hold it under their feet, and tear off pieces, 

 cleverly enough, like an ordinary bird of prey. 



The birds are quick-tempered, and are best kept in separate 

 compartments when in a shed. Sometimes if they have a 

 ■difference, one will give the other a resounding thump with its 

 foot ; and I have known an inquisitive Stanley Crane thrown 

 back a yard or more by an unexpected blow on the chest. 



In summer it is pretty to watch them striding about their 

 paddock examining the grass, and stooping down to pick up 

 a sleepy fly or beetle, or standing watchfully over a tuft as if 

 they had heard a mouse stir. 



Major Horsbrugh tells me that he has seen a wild Secretary- 

 bird extend a wing and gently touch a bush, and like a flash 

 strike at a lizard or locust which might be disturbed and try 

 to escape. Any low-flying butterfly, such as a meadow-brown, 

 is soon knocked down, and eaten by my birds, and I have seen 

 •one pursue even a common blue across the enclosure, striking 

 at it whenever he got a chance, but, as far as I have seen, without 

 success. But evidently insects form a large portion of their 

 natural food, and I should think they must destroy a great 

 amount of locusts. 



Their way of resting is unusual, and very unlike that of 

 other members of their Order. They lie down with wings 



Naturalist, 



