684 ZOOLOGICAL 
very correctly wrought out. Fortunately, the 
presence of the entire skull leaves no room for 
argument regarding the external anatomy of the 
head. 
The Chinese Takin, which is quite distinct 
from the Mishmi species, is a genuine zoological 
oddity, like the musk-ox, prong-horn and moun- 
tain goat. It has the heavy, burly body and 
hump of an overgrown mountain goat, thick and 
clumsy legs like a musk-ox, hoofs like a Texas 
steer, and horns that are quite unique. The 
shoulder height of our specimen is fifty inches, 
girth sixty-seven inches, and when alive it must 
have weighed about 600 pounds. Its longest 
horn has a length of nineteen and _five-eighths 
inches, and a basal circumference of eleven and 
one-half inches. The widest spread at the base 
of the horns is seventeen inches, and between 
the tips, thirteen and three-quarter inches. Mr. 
Mitchell shot the animal in the Province of 
Szechuan, western China, near the eastern bor- 
der of Tibet, in 1908. Vive 10, dele 
THE SECRETARY BIRD. 
By Lee S. CrRanpatt. 
O matter what may be the age or standing 
of a zoological collection, there are always 
certain elusive creatures which are con- 
stantly sought to increase its scientific value and 
interest. Whenever a special desideratum is ac- 
quired, somehow another long-felt want prompt- 
ly rises to take its place. As every collector 
knows, one of the greatest pleasures in gather- 
ing a collection of living creatures is the sudden 
acquisition of a species that has eluded all ef- 
forts to procure it. 
The Secretary Bird, (Serpentarius serpen- 
tarius Miller) is not the rarest bird among 
European zoological gardens. In fact, these 
birds have many times been exhibited in the 
older institutions, and have there gained an en- 
viable reputation as entertainers and educators. 
It is said to be a popular amusement among 
a certain class of Englishmen to give a zoo 
bird-keeper a “bob” to see the Secretary Bird 
stamp on a rat! Under ordinary conditions, it 
would seem that a Secretary Bird should not be 
particularly difficult to secure; but it happens 
that as a rule every arrival in European ports 
is instantly purchased by some enterprising col- 
lector, and therefore living specimens are seldom 
offered in America. 
Last winter, however, a New York dealer in- 
formed the Director that his foreign agents had 
secured a very fine pair of Secretaries, which he 
SOCIETY 
BULLETIN. 
PREPARING TO STRIKE. 
The bird advances with deliberation. 
offered to deliver at the Park for a sum none too 
modest. Needless to say, the offer was imme- 
diately accepted, not without misgivings as to 
the ability of the dealer to fill his contract. 
Great was our delight, therefore, when word 
was received that the coveted pair was about to 
be delivered at the Park! Their wings having 
already been clipped, they were turned at once 
into one of the large runs at the Ostrich House, 
which had been prepared for them. After a 
much-needed stretching of the great expanse of 
wing and length of limb, they graciously ac- 
cepted their first meal of rats, cheerfully swal- 
lowing them whole! 
The Secretary Bird is a huge ground hawk, 
with legs as long as those of a sand-hill crane. 
It is a handsome bird, stately in pose and very 
alert and quick in movement. When erect the 
male is easily four feet high, the greater part of 
it being contributed by his neck and legs. 
In general color the bird is a soft, ashy-gray, 
the wings, thighs and abdomen being black, and 
the breast white. The gray middle tail feathers 
are so long as nearly to touch the ground when 
the bird is standing. In the male, the naked 
skin of the face is yellow, and the long, heavy 
eye-lashes well set off the handsome, gray eyes. 
The crowning beauty of the bird, however, lies 
in the two, long, black cockades which grow at 
either side of the back of the head. These 
feather tufts are said to have suggested the pop- 
ular name of the species, from their supposed 
