65 



ZOOLOGY. 



solitary disposition, and are rarely to be procured but by 

 the gun ; sometimes they are taken in traps baited with the 

 decaying carcase of some animal^ particularly those of either 

 the Dog or Cat. 



2. Serpentarius. Snake-eater. Bill sfraif, hooked at ti e 

 point ; tongue entire ; legs very long ; dazes short 

 and blunt. 



Of this genus there is only one knoAvn species^ which has 

 Acquired the name of Snake-eater, from its propensity to 

 devour the various kinds of Snakes ; it is a native of Sou- 

 thern Africa, where it is held sacred, on account of its ridding 

 the country from noxious reptiles. One we saw was gene- 

 rally fed with live Eels ; which the bird killed by a stroke 

 of its foot on the back ; as soon as the Eel was stunned 

 with the blow, the bird invariably threw it into the air, and 

 caught it in its bill as it fell to the ground. 



5. Falco. Eagle and Hawk. Bill hooked, covered at the 

 base with Cere, in which the nostrils are situated ; 

 tongue cloven ; toes three forward, and one backward, 

 the middle one connected to the outer, as far as the 

 first joint ; claws large, and greatly curved. 



The species of this genus are exceedingly numerous, and 

 very widely dispersed ; some of the kinds being found in 

 almost every country, whether hot or cold ; they build their 

 nests, some on inaccessible precipices, overhanging the sea ; 

 others on the rugged tops of mountains, or on ruined and 

 forsaken buildings ; some of the smaller kinds of Hawks ^on- 



