VULTURE. 



the carcafes before they putrify and fill the air with noxious esr- 

 halations. 



-»7- 

 SECRETARY 



Secretary V. Gen. Syn. i. p. 20. N" 17. pi. 2. 

 Slaangen-vraater, Sparrm, Voy, i. p. 154. 



jR. Sparrman fays, that this is not a ifhy bird j but when 

 feared, it firft tries to fave itfelf by hopping and fcudding 

 very fwifcly ; and, if this method fails, takes to flight. It feizes 

 Serpents, by firfl; holding the point of one wing forward. to parry 

 off the bite; fometimes fpurning and treading upon it; at other 

 times taking it on its pinions, and throwing it into the air; and 

 after wearying out the adverfary, kills and fwal'iows it at leifure, 

 without danger. The above account. Dr. Sparrman does not 

 doubt the truth of, though it did not fall under his own obferva- 

 ^tion. 



18. 

 PLAINTIVE V. 



DSSCRIPTIGN. 



^ Plaintive Eagle, Gen. Syn. i. p. 34. 



Br. Muf. 



T ENGTH two feet four inches. Bill two inches long, and 

 not greatly hooked, the colour black ; the cere extends to 

 within one inch and a quarter of the tip, and the noftrils are placed 

 obliquely near the top ; the bare part extends backward round the 

 eyes, almoft to the top of the head ; and the colour of the whole of 

 the bare parts yellow : the fore-part of the neck is nearly deltitute 

 of feathers : the top of the head and hind part of the neck are 

 brown : the upper part of the body barred brown and white : the 

 wings brown: the tail white, crofled with blackifh bars, and the 

 end, for one inchj of this laft colour ; the bafe of the four firfl 



quills 



