Abstract
I know of no bird from which lessons in practical flight can be better obtained than from the Secretary bird. As one sees him stalking along with stately gait across the veld in South Africa, he reminds one rather of a very large pied pheasant, but with longer legs and an eagle–like head. But now let us gallop straight towards him and note carefully his successive actions. At first, he raises his head in a proud and offended manner, but then recognising the undoubted physical superiority of the mounted man, he hurries his steps and runs in an ungainly fashion, almost as if afraid. Then he slowly opens and extends his great wings till they are widely stretched outwards. His appearance then irresistably recalls to mind with grim sadness the scene, so impressed on my memory, of poor Pitcher's last attempts to solve the mysteries of flight.
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