Baiestow : ISTatiteal HisTOEY Notes— South Afeica. 91 



It dares not object, 



When it cannot reject. 

 I shall not readily forget my first ramble on African soil. The 

 country, flora, fauna, atmosphere — all, all was novel to me ; and the 

 grandeur of the scene, beneath a blue and cloudless sky, dispelled 

 sensations of solitude which swayed a heart of sadness. Hist ! what 

 is that 1 Something tall and stately, refined and graceful — a brother 

 naturalist. Boldly striding with the assurance and ease of conscious 

 superiority a secretary-bird parades the arid veldt, "j" My companion 

 is also in search of specimens, but amongst the order Oplddia per- 

 chance. Believing that a stranger is poaching on preserved ground, 

 he rushes (foolish, frantic bird !) far beyond my reach, proving himself 

 by such an unwarrantable act no naturalist at all. A true snake- 

 feeder, he is well-named both in vulgar parlance secretary, and 

 scientifically Serpentarius reptilivora, and is, I think, our largest bird, 

 succeeded by the bearded vulture. Of a pale pluish plumage, thighs 

 and abdomen black and brown, tail feathers black, more or less inter- 

 spersed with grey, and tips white, the secretary is, of a truth, a really 

 noble fellow, and admirably deserves the distinction of Government 

 protection. I have seen him quite a hundred times hunting in barren 

 spots and sandy places, but only once has the privilege of viewing an 

 attack been accorded me. Writers speak of the bird's " pouncing 

 spring," and the first blow which paralyses prey," and very likely 

 action is suited to the character of his victim. On the occasion of 

 which I speak, he seemed to flutter his wings about after the style of 

 an enraged ostrich, then daintily approaching and meditatively, as if 

 mocking the reptile's antagonism, he battered his wretched dinner 

 with a sharp and fierce wing-stroke, and retreated, repeating the dose 

 once more, and swallowed his little enemy at one gulp. I must here 

 avow a little disappointment also, whilst in the company of my 

 feathered friends. Beautiful and diversified are they, beyond a doubt, 

 but apparently deficient in sweet vocality. They do not melodise their 

 love-whispers, and sing to us as poets say they do at home. Sky-lark 

 and throstle ! I miss your cheery notes ; Christmas robin, I miss your 

 scarlet vest and welcome piping of wintry welcome. Yes ! and, dear 

 old sparrow, I miss your once-despised " chirrup ! chirrup !" and 

 modest yet genteel attire. Why should I shrink from speaking truth 

 in order to maintain the pirstige of Old England's vocabulary 1 The 

 cat is out of the bag ! I miss the very droppings which my native 

 sparrow rain-spout lodgers playfully cast down upon the front-door 



t Pronounced "by Africanders "felt." 



