48 AFRICAN SNAKE-EATER. 



Eater is that of Monsieur Levaillant, who, during 

 his African travels, had the opportunity of contem- 

 plating it in its native regions. Its size, he in- 

 forms us, is somewhat inferior to that of a Stork, 

 the beak strong, and curved like that of an Eagle ; 

 the base of the beak, and the eyes, are surrounded 

 by a bare orange-coloured skin : the mouth is 

 wide, the gape or opening passing beyond the 

 eyes; which are grey, and ornamented by black 

 brows: on the back of the head is a pendent crest, 

 formed often feathers, the lowest of which are the 

 longest: the legs are very long, and the tail is 

 composed of feathers which lengthen on each side, 

 the two middle ones being twice the length of the 

 rest. The colour of the bird in its perfect plumage 

 is a blueish grey on the head, neck, breast and 

 back: the coverts of the wings are of the same 

 colour, but clouded with rufous brown, and the 

 quill-feathers are black : the throat and breast are 

 white; the inferior tail-coverts very pale rufous; 

 the lower belly black, mixed or streaked with 

 rufous; the thighs black, very finely streaked with 

 brown : the tail-feathers are partly black, but be- 

 come more grey as they lengthen, and are tipped 

 with white: the two middle-feathers are of a 

 blueish grey, clouded with brown towards the end, 

 which is white with a black spot. The female 

 differs from the male by its grey colour, less clouded 

 with brown ; by its shorter crest ; by the feathers 

 on the belly and thighs being more varied ; and 

 lastly, by the two middle tail-feathers, which are 

 shorter than in the male. The skin of the throat 



