Secretary Bird

an African bird of prey, otherwise known as the serpent-eater or crane-vulture. Its common name is derived from the appearance of its crest, which, when the bird is not excited, lies smoothly on the head, not unlike an old-fashioned quill carried above the writer's ear. The secretary bird is about four feet in length, and is of an ashy gray color with black portions of plumage. It has a large capacity for serpents, being able to eat several snakes two or three feet long. It attacks by dealing blows with its wing as the serpent endeavors to strike. This useful bird is often kept by the Dutch colonists in South Africa to protect the premises from snakes and other vermin.