250 CLASS AVES. 



found in all the dry plains in the neighbourhood of the Cape, 

 particularly in Swartland. They are also very frequently seen 

 on the eastern side, in the country of the Caffres, and in the 

 interior. They are more rare on the western side, and espe- 

 cially in the country of the Namaquois. 



When the secretary, says Quarhoent, meets or discovers a 

 serpent, he attacks it at first with his wings to tire it out. He 

 then seizes it by the tail, raises it to a great height in the air, 

 and then lets it fall. This operation is repeated, until the 

 serpent is dead. 



When the secretaiy is disturbed, he makes a hoarse kind 

 of croaking sound. His natural disposition is mild. It is 

 neither mischievous nor dangerous. The observer, above 

 cited, has seen these birds liviag peaceably in a poultry-yard 

 in the midst of the fowl. They were fed with meat, and were 

 very greedy of intestines, which they kept under their feet in 

 eating as they would have done a serpent. These birds, though 

 armed like the carnivora, have nothing of their ferocity. They 

 employ the beak, neither as an offensive nor defensive weapon. 

 They fly instead of attacking, avoid approach, and, to escape 

 even a feeble enemy, will make leaps of eight or nine feet in 

 height. The secretary, when taken young, is easily tamed, 

 soon grows accustomed to live with poultry, and will never do 

 any harm unless suffered to fast too long. But if he suffers 

 from hunger, he will make free with the chickens and young 

 ducks. Naturally gentle and sportive, this singular bird seems 

 to love peace : for if he sees a combat take place among the 

 fowl, he will run to separate them. The inhabitants of the 

 Cape, accordingly, rear these birds for the purpose of preserving 

 peace in their farm-yards, and to destroy lizards, serpents, 

 and rats, which often come to devour the eggs and fowls. 



This African bird easily accommodates itself to our climates, 

 and has been kept in menageries both here and in Holland. 

 When desirous of repose and sleep, it lies on the ground, on its 

 chest and belly. To eat at its ease, it gathers itself up on its 



