204 OBNAMENTS OP THE VELD 



SECRETARY-BIRD 



A prominent though not very common figure on the veld 

 is the Secretary-Bird {Serpentarius secretarius). It is a 

 well-known hird in its ashy-grey and black plumage ; the 

 black quill-like feathers situated at the back of the head and 

 erectable at will give the bird its name of " Secretary." 



This bird was formerly protected under a five pound fine 

 in the Cape Colony, but this has now been removed, we 

 believe, owing probably to a closer knowledge of the economy 

 of the Secretary-Bird. 



It requires a considerable run before it can rise on the 

 wing, and seldom flies either high or far. We on one occasion 

 ran a bird down on horseback with a pack of greyhounds, 

 the bird running with the fleetness of an antelope, with 

 outstretched wings, occasionally rising in the air, but its 

 flight was of short duration, the bird invariably descending 

 and continuing its course on foot, using its wings as pro- 

 pellers. This alternate rising and settling kept on tiU the 

 bird was too tired to rise, and the dogs eventually brought 

 it to bay against a bank, where it pluckily defended itself 

 with wings and beak. Calling the dogs off, we let the bird 

 go on its way unmolested, having experienced the best run 

 with the hounds we had had that season, and the bird's 

 staying powers having had the effect of putting our horses 

 into a foamy lather from head to foot. 



The Secretary usually roosts in a mimosa tree at night, 

 where it also constructs its nest — ^a large shallow saucer of 

 sticks, lined with a few clods of roots, hair and wool, and 

 measuring from three to five feet in diameter. 



The eggs are either plain bluish-white or marked with 

 brownish spots. 



It stalks about the veld singly or in pairs, and feeds on 

 snakes, lizards, small tortoises, insects, and young birds. 



