AFRICA. 247 
without nolfe, and without being perceived, 
I faw it was adually one fighting with a fer- 
pent. 
The battle was obftinate, and conduded 
with equal addrefs on both fides. But the fer- 
pent, feeling the inferiority of his ftrength, em- 
ployed, in his attempt to flee and regain his ' 
hole, that cunning which is afcribed to him ; 
while the bird, gueffing his defign, flopped him 
on a fudden, and ciit oft'his retreat, by placing 
herfelf before him at a fingle leap. On what- 
ever fide the reptile endeavoured to make his 
efcape, his enemy ftill appeared before him. 
Then uniting at once bravery and cunning, he 
ereded himfelf boldly to intimidate the bird; 
and, hiffing dreadfully, difplayed his menacing 
throat, inflamed eyes, and a head fwelled with 
rag§ and venom. 
Sometimes this threatening appearance pro«. 
duced a momentary fufpenfion of hoftilities : 
but the bird foon returned to the charp-e : 
and, covering her body with one of her wings 
as a buckler, flruck her enemy with the bony 
protuberances of the other, which, like little 
clubs, ferved the more effedually to knock him 
^pWHj as he raifed himfelf to the blow. I 
R 4 f^w 
