Secretary-bird

or SERPENT-EATER. (Zool.) The Gypogeranus of naturalists (Fig. 584), a South-African bird of prey which agrees in its general character and some of its habits with the Falconidæ, especially those which prey on reptiles, while it differs from the Hawks and Owls in having feet incapable of grasping, and very long legs. Accordingly, it keeps constantly on the ground, in sandy and open places, and wages continual war against reptiles,especially Serpents, which it pursues on foot. When this bird attacks a serpent, it covers its breast with one wing, (the wings being Fig. 584.- SECRETARY-BIRD. armed with spurs on the elbow-joints,) to protect itself from the bite, and with the other strikes violent blows, until it has stunned its prey. It then breaks the cranium with its beak, and tears the reptile in pieces, or, if small, swallows it entire. In its wild state the S. B. is shy and difficult of approach; but it is easily tamed, and is often kept in poultry-yards by the inhabitants of the Cape of Good Hope, for the purpose of destroying lizards, snakes, rats, . [s. 810]