62 cassell's book of birds. 



I was surprised by the loud penetrating notes of the Ganga, whose voice sounded strange and 

 unearthly in those deserted regions. This species is of social habits, and, though often found 

 solitary, is as frequently met with in pairs and numerous flocks. Woods are usually preferred for 

 its dwelling-place, as in such localities it easily finds abundance of wasps, bees, and other insects, 

 upon which it chiefly subsists. Whilst occupied in the chase of prey, its deep-toned voice is 

 constantly heard as it flies about from branch to branch." We are told on reliable authority that 

 it also eats large quantities of fruit and berries, and some kinds of reptiles. 



THE SECRETARY. 



The Secretary or Crane Vulture (Gyfogeranus serpentarius), a member of this family, 

 is one of the most extraordinary birds with which we are acquainted, and well deserves a minute 

 description. Its body is slender, its wings long and straight, the first five quills being of equal 

 length, and there are blunt spurs or excrescences on the carpal joint. The tail is of remarkable 

 length, and very abruptly graduated, the two middle feathers, which are slender, extending far 

 beyond the rest. Owing to the very peculiar construction of the feet, naturalists differ as to the 

 classification of this species, and we have therefore assigned it to no particular group. The principal 

 peculiarity of the Crane Vulture's foot is the disproportionate length of the tarsus ; the toes are 

 short and the claws of moderate size, blunt, but slightly curved and very strong. The neck is thick, 

 and the head small, broad, and flat at the top ; the beak, which is shorter than the head, is thick, 

 powerful, and vaulted, curving abruptly downwards from its base : the hook in which the upper 

 mandible terminates is of moderate size, and very sharply pointed. The cere extends from below 

 the eyes almost to the middle of the beak. The plumage is thick and formed of large feathers, 

 which are prolonged at the back of the head into a crest, composed of six pairs of feathers placed 

 one behind the other, so that they can be either raised and spread, or laid flat one upon another. 

 The cheek-stripes and region of the eyes are bare. In the coloration of the plumage light greyish 

 blue predominates ; the top of the head, crest, nape, quills, and tail feathers, with the exception of 

 the two longest, are black, edged with white at their tip ; the belly is striped with black and 

 light grey, the legs with grey and light brown ; the two centre tail-feathers are greyish blue, tipped 

 with white, and spotted with black towards the extremity ; the lower wing-covers are reddish brown. 

 The crest of the female is shorter and her tail longer than that of her mate, her plumage is also 

 lighter ; her legs are striped brown and white, and her belly is entirely of the latter hue. The young 

 resemble their mother. The length of the male is from forty-one to forty-three inches ; the wing 

 measures twenty-four inches and the tarsus is one foot long. The female is somewhat larger than 

 her mate. 



The Crane Vulture inhabits Africa, from the Cape to fifteen degrees north latitude, and from 

 the Red Sea to Senegal ; it is also occasionally seen on the Philippine Islands. Such as are met 

 with in Northern Africa are smaller than that we have just described, and are probably a different 

 species. A glance at the engraving of this remarkable bird will convince our reader that its life 

 must necessarily be passed almost entirely upon the ground. Mountains and woods it carefully 

 avoids, and when desirous of flying it is compelled to run a short distance "and then spring 

 upwards, in order to get fairly on the wing ; at first it moves heavily and with apparent difficulty 

 through the air, but after a few strenuous efforts its flight becomes easy and regular, and it sweeps 

 lightly and beautifully aloft, apparently without even moving its broad pinions : it finds itself, 

 however, most at home upon the ground, and stalks over its surface with much dignity, the long 

 Crane-like legs enabling it to walk for miles without fatigue ; when in pursuit of prey it runs, with 

 its body thrown forward, almost as rapidly as a Bustard. 



