262 Accipitres. BIRDS. Falconid^. 
feathers are variegated with black and grey, and tipped 
nent, whom he swallows whole if of convenient size, or 
with white. The great length and slenderness of the 
tears to pieces if too large to be disposed of at a single 
legs have been already alluded to ; these characters 
gulp. Ho has sometimes been seen to carry up a 
indicate that the bird is constructed especially for walk- 
snake, which refused to die easily, to a great height in 
ing and running on the ground, and in accordance 
the air, and then let him fall to the ground. Some 
with this destination we find the toes comparatively 
notion of the voracity of this bird, and of the benefits 
little developed, the hind one in particular being very 
which he unconsciously confers upon the inhabitants of 
small, and the foot, like that of the Vultures, is incapable 
a region so overrun with reptiles as Southern Africa, 
of grasping and carrying ofi’ a prey. 
may be obtained from a statement of Le Vaillant, to 
All these peculiarities co-operate in adapting the 
the effect that he found in the crop of a Secretary 
Secretary-bird to its place of abode and mode of life. 
eleven good-sized lizards, three snakes of the length 
It is found upon the dry plains of Southern Africa, 
of a man’s arm, and eleven small tortoises, besides a 
where it wages an incessant and deadly war with the 
considerable number of insects. It is no wonder then 
infinite multitude of snakes and reptiles of all kinds 
that the Secretary-bird is regarded as a benefactor 
with which that region abounds. And here we have 
by the inhabitants of his native country ; and we find 
to notice another peculiarity of this singular bird — a 
that he is not unfrequently domesticated at the Cape, 
further adaptation to its particular calling of snake- 
and kept among poultry, partly for the purpose of 
destroyer. Its wings, which are of large size, and 
destroying snakes, rats,' and other injurious animals. 
covered with strong quill feathers like those of most 
and partly, it is said, with the view of keeping order 
Falconidee, are further armed with blunt but strong 
amongst the other inhabitants of the yard. He is said 
spurs at the wrist joint, and these wings the bird 
to live peaceablj^ with the latter, notwithstanding his 
holds before him like a shield, keeping them in con- 
accipitrine nature ; although, if he is not properly sup- 
tinual agitation — sparring, as it were, as he advances 
plied with food, he sometimes makes away with a 
sidelong towards his intended prey. His long legs. 
chicken or two. The bird has also been introduced by 
which enable him to run with rapidity, also give 
the French into the colony of Martinique, with the 
him a gveat advantage in this mode of attack, by rais- 
view of keeping down the numbers of the terribly 
ing his head to a safe height from the ground, and as 
venomous Fer-de-lance serpent {Trigonocephalus). 
he gradually approaches the snake, he watches care- 
The nest of the Secretary-bird is built of sticks in 
fully for the moment when the latter is about to spring 
a thicket, usually in the highest part of the district 
upon him, and to fix its poisonous fangs in some vul- 
inhabited by the birds. It is of large size, often three 
nerable part of its adversary’s body. But this is usually 
feet in diameter, flat, and lined in the centre with 
a vain attempt ; as the reptile dashes upon its enemy, a 
wool, hair, and feathers. The bird is said to have 
sudden and most violent blow from the bird’s armed 
the art of arranging the branches of the bushes sur- 
wing throws him writhing upon the ground, and this 
rounding it, in such a way that their shoots speedily 
process is repeated if the snake be strong enough to 
form a rampart round it, and conceal it most effec- 
return to the attack. After reducing his foe to a help- 
tually. The eggs are two or three in number, and 
less condition by these tremendous blows, the bird, like 
of a bluish-white colour', faintly spotted or clouded 
a victorious gladiator, proceeds to despatch his oppo- 
with brown. 
HAKEIEES. 
THE COMMON HARRIER {Circus cyanms). — The 
appears to become less abundant towards the north. 
group of hawks to which the name of Harriers is given. 
Specimens have been killed in some parts of Africa, 
makes the nearest approach of all the diurnal preda- 
and a harrier occurs in North America which seems 
ceous birds to the family of the Strigidse, or Owls. The 
to be identical with the European species. The male 
characters which indicate this alliance are the softness 
of the Common Harrier measures about eighteen inches 
of the plumage, and the greater size of the eyes and 
in length, and is of a light bluish-grey colour on the 
ears, accompanied, in some species, by a radiating 
upper surface, with the primaries of the wings nearly 
arrangement of the feathers of the face, presenting a 
black ; the lower surface is ashy grey, becoming paler 
certain degree of resemblance to the well-known facial 
on the belly. The female, which is about two inches 
discs which give the owls such a curious staring aspect. 
longer than her partner, differs from him completely in 
The name of Harriers given to this group of hawks, 
colouring, being of a uniform brown colour above, and 
is supposed to allude to their mode of seeking their 
reddish-butf beneath, whilst the lateral tail feathers are 
prey ; when thus engaged, they fly slowly along at but 
barred transversely with two shades of brown. From 
a little distance from the ground, apparently beating 
this latter character the female is sometimes called the 
over every part of the surface, somewhat in the manner 
Ringtail, or Ring-tailed Harrier. The wings in both 
of a dog hunting for game. 
sexes are about two inches shorter than the tail ; the 
The Common Harrier is generally distributed in 
bill is black, the cere and feet are yellow, and the claws 
Britain, although now, like most birds of prey, becom- 
black. 
ing far less common than it was but a few years back. 
This bird is usually fdtmd in flat, marshy districts. 
It inhabits the temperate parts of Europe and Asia, but 
on low moors and commons. Its flight is buoyant and 
