very strange birds," said the gentleman who
accompanied them; "they are called Secretaries, on account of the
feathers which hang behind their heads, as the feather of a pen does
when a clerk puts it behind his ear: but they are very useful, for they
are snake-killers; indeed, they would, if they could, live altogether
upon snakes, which they are very great enemies to, never letting one
escape. They strike them with their feet, and with such force as to
kill them immediately."

"Are there many snakes in this country?" inquired William.

"Yes, and very venomous snakes," replied Mr Seagrave; "so that these
birds are very useful in destroying them. You observe, William, that
the Almighty, in his wisdom, has so arranged it that no animal
(especially of a noxious kind) shall be multiplied to excess, but kept
under by being preyed upon by some other; indeed, wherever in any
country an animal exists in any quantity, there is generally found
another animal which destroys it. The Secretary inhabits this country
where snakes exist in numbers, that it may destroy them: in England the
bird would be of little value."

"But some animals are too large or too fierce to be destroyed by others,
papa; for instance, the elephant and the lion."

"Very true; but these larger animals do not breed so fast, and therefore
their numbers do not increase so rapidly. For instance, a pair of
elephants will not have more than one young one in the space of two
years or more; while the rabbits, which are preyed upon and the food of
so many other beasts as well as birds, would increase enormously, if
they were not destroyed. Examine through the whole of creation, and you
will find that there is an unerring hand, which invariably preserves the
balance exact; and that there are no more mouths than for which food is
provided, although accidental circumstances may for a time occasion a
slight alteration."

They continued their walk until they came to the den of the lions. It
was a large place, in closed with a strong and high wall of stone, with
only one window to it for the visitors to look at them, as it was open
above. This window was wide, and with strong iron bars running from the
top to the bottom; but the width between the bars was such that a lion
could put his paw out with ease; and they were therefore cautioned not
to go too near. It was a fine sight to see eight or ten of these
noble-looking animals lying down in various attitudes, qu