[ 5 ^ ] 
food. The toes in this bird are alfo much rtiorter than ' 
they are in herons, fo that I tliink it mufl; be placed 
amongft land birds. The bill is exactly like thofe 
of hawks, and other birds of prey, which is the 
only inftance I luve diicovered in any of the long 
legged kind of birds ; the talons or claws are fmall 
and unfit for a biid of prey, and the eyes arc of 
a dark colour placed in fpaces covered with a bare 
fkin of an oiange colour, on each fide of the head. 
It hath a beautiful crefl; compofed of many long 
painted feathers tipped witli black hanging back- 
ward. The beak, head, neck, back, bread, and 
upper covert feathers of the wings are of a blueilli 
afh colour, rather lighter on' the bread; than on the 
back. The belly, thighs, the greater wing-feathers, 
and tail, are black, the tail feathers being tipped 
with white ; the legs and feet are of a reddidi fiefli 
colour, the claws black. This bird was called a 
fnake-eater, by thofe who brought it from India. I 
believe it may prey on fmall lerpents, lizards, and 
other fmall reptiles. Another bird was brought with 
this, fuppofed to be the male of this fpecies, which 
died foon after it was landed Mr. Raymond’s fer- 
vant told me that it was fomething larger, and the 
cred longer, the head black, but that in other re- 
fpeds the two birds agreed. . 
I am, SIR, 
Your mod humble fervant, 
College of Phyficlans, 
January, 1771. 
Geo. Edwards. 
VII. An 
