HONEY-BUZZARDS— SECRETARY. 43 



same habits, and the Falco ceruginosus, which keeps within the 

 reach of water courses, and feeds on reptiles. 



65. The HoNEY-BuzzARDs, — Perms, — are distinguished from 

 all the rest of the tribe of falcons by the feathers which cover the 

 space between the eye and beak, which space in all other birds of 

 this tribe is ordinarily naked, and simply furnished with a few- 

 hairs. The Common 11 mcy- Buzzard, — Falco apicorus, — feeds 

 on insects, and principally on bees and wasps. 



56. Many naturalists also place in the tribe of Falcons, the 

 Messenger or Secretary — Serpentarius, or Gypogeranns — a bird 

 which inhabits the south of Africa, and which is very remark- 

 able for the extraordinary length of its tarsi; but it differs too 

 much from other birds of prey, to be arranged in the same tribe 

 as the preceding, and should constitute by itself a fourth division 

 of the family of Diurnse. 



57. The Secretary, — Falco serpentarius, ~ inhabits the dry 

 and open grounds in the vicinity of the Cape of Good Hope, 

 where it hunts reptiles on foot ; its claws consequently become 

 much worn. "I perceived one day," says M. Smith, "a Secre- 

 tary that made two or three turns on the wing, near to where I 

 was. He soon settled, and I saw that he examined very atten^ 

 tively some object near the place where he alighted. Having 

 cautiously approached, he extended one wing which he constantly 

 agitated. I then discovered a serpent of large size, elevating its 

 head, and seemingly awaiting the advance of the bird to strike 

 him ; but a quick blow of the wing of the Secretary soon turned 

 it over : the bird appeared to wait till the serpent should rise in 

 order to strike again, but approached, and seizing it in his claws 

 and beak, rose perpendicularly into the air, from whence he let it 

 fall, and thus finished the killing, and afterwards disposed of it 

 in perfect security." 



FAMILY OF NOCTURNAL BIRDS OF PREY. 



58. The birds of prey of the family of nocturnal, have a very 

 large head and a very short neck, (Plate 3, fig. 2. and 5.) ; the 

 eyes are directed forward and surrounded by a circle of fringed 

 feathers, the anterior of which cover the cere of the beak, and 

 the posterior, the opening of the ear ; the pupil is very large and 

 the sight is weak. The external toe can be directed forwards or 



55. In what particulars do the Honey-Buzzards differ from other birds of 

 the tribe of Falcons ? 



56. Does the Secretary properly belong to the tribe of Falcons ? 



57. Where is the Secretary found ? What are its habits? 



58. What are the zoological characters of the birds of the family of 

 Nocturnse ? What is the character of the pupil ? 



