ead and beak, however, were more like those of an eagle or vulture.
It had well-developed wings, armed with spurs, and a very long tail,
with the two middle feathers longer than the rest. Its general colour
was bluish grey, with a white throat and breast, and a reddish tinge
upon the wing-feathers. But, perhaps, the most remarkable thing about
the bird was its "crest." This consisted of a number of long, blackish
plumes growing out of its occiput, and extending down the back of its
neck nearly to the shoulders. These gave the bird a very peculiar
appearance; and the fancied resemblance to a secretary of the olden time
with his long quill behind his ear--before steel pens came into
fashion--is the reason why the bird has received the very inappropriate
name of the "Secretary-bird."

It is more properly named the "serpent-eater," and naturalists have
given it the title _Gypogeranus_, or "crane-vulture." It is sometimes
also called "the messenger," from the staid solemn manner of its walk,
as it stalks over the plain.

Of all its names that of "serpent-eater" is the best adapted to the
character of the bird. It is true there are other birds that kill and
eat serpents,--as the "guaco" bird of South America, and many hawks and
kites,--but the secretary is the only winged creature that makes
reptiles of this class exclusively its prey, and carries on a constant
war against them. It is not strictly correct to say that it feeds
exclusively upon snakes. It will also eat lizards, tortoises, and even
locusts; but snakes are certainly its favourite food, and to obtain
these it risks its life in many a deadly encounter with those of a very
large kind. The serpent-eater is an African bird, and is not peculiar
to South Africa alone, as it is found in the Gambia country. It is also
a native of the Philippine Isles. There is some doubt whether the
species of the Philippine Isles is identical with that of Africa. A
difference is noted in the plumage, though very slight. The disposition
of the crest-plumes differs in the two, and the tail-feathers are
differently arranged. In the African species the two middle ones are
the longest, while in the serpent-eater of the Philippines it is the two
outside feathers that project--giving the bird the appearance of having
a "fork" or "swallow" tail. Some points of distinction have also been
observed between the South African bird and that of the Gambia.

The serpent-eater is, howeve