The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-06-07

which the native companion" is very
seldom seen. Its mode of killing a
snake is peculiar, for it stamps on the
reptile with the full force Of it's leg,
which is retracted up to the body,
and then propelled down with all the
strength of the bird on it's foe and
prey, which is disabled, if not indeed
killed outright, by the first stroke The
bird, however, to make assurance doub-
ly sure, continues to strike the reptile
4 succession of quick blows that soon
crush the last sign Of life out of the
mangled remains, which it then sWal-
lows without more ado.
The secretary bird of Southern Az:
RIGA is one about which many tales
have been told, but of which not very
much reliable information has found it's
way into ordinary natural history
books, the compilers of which, as a
rule, copy from one another without
verifying Oh disproving the items of
news they retail. On more than one
occasion I have seen a secretary bird
tackling it's prey, when it acts precise
ly as the native. companion does, nei-
ther touching it with either beak or
wings, but always stamping ON it with
one Of it's feet, which it brings down
on the ophidian with the force of
sledge-hammer, Invariably disabling the
reptile by the first blow; but, in order
to make assurance double sure, the
ightning-like stroke is repeated over
and over again, until all the vertabrae
are dislocated. =.
have read somewhere that the Sec
rotary bird can kick; I should rather
think it could; but its strokes are deliv-
cred straight up and down, and not
laterally like those of a camel or a
donkey; at least, I have always seen
them so deivered.' Should the snake
show fight, which it will sometimes,
the secretary bird seems to tighten all
it's feathers about it, hopping brisily
about, avoiding the attack of the des-
perate ophidian, and waiting it's own
| opportunity for delivering the coup de
| grace, which it is not long in doing,
for the unequal contest is soon over,
| and the crushed serpent reposes harm
| lessly in its living tomb.
! It is a matter Of dispute to what
! order the secretary. bird belongs, some
naturalists CHASING it with the falcons,
and others with the cranes, while 9th
ers consider it as a kind of connecting
| link between the two. At the 'Zoo,''
where they are nothing if not original,
4 it is termed the secretary vulture
| (SerDentarius reptiliyorus), which, to
say the least, is an unnecessary multi
plying of synonyms. It is, whether a
vultJlre or a falcon, certainly a bird
/ of prey, and is looked upon with con-
siderable amount of kindly regard, not
to say affection, in it's native country,
! On account of the service it renders to
| the Inhabitants by the destruction of
their deadly enemies, the snakes; and
SO it ought to be, for it is a feathered
constable rather than secretary. and if
| the former, an acting inspector on
duty, and always ready, at moments
notice, not only to arrest, but to con-
denim and execute amy ophidian pest
| to society, whether on the rampage OF
! lurking in secret places to pounce upon
| the nnwary. With the Accipitrines,
| then we will leave it, and that order
may Well be proud of it's association
with so useful and accomplished Il
| member.
/: The Australian, also called Jardine's
| Harrier, is another serpent killer Of