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Updated: June 9, 2025
Its eyes sparkled with rage, and their fiery glitter could be seen even at many yards distance. The bird diverged from its course, and after passing the snake, turned and swooped again from the opposite direction. But the reptile had shifted its body so as to meet the attack, and its threatening head once more was reared high above its coiled body. The guaco was foiled a second time.
As Don Pablo spoke, the guaco, which had hopped down to the lowest branches of a neighbouring tree, swooped suddenly at the snake, evidently aiming to clutch it around the neck. The latter, however, had been too quick, and coiling itself, like a flash of lightning darted its head out towards the bird in a threatening manner.
As Don Pablo spoke, the guaco, which had hopped down to the lowest branches of a neighbouring tree, swooped suddenly at the snake, evidently aiming to clutch it around the neck. The latter, however, had been too quick, and coiling itself, like a flash of lightning darted its head out towards the bird in a threatening manner.
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.
Don Pablo recognised them as the leaves of a plant of the genus Mikania, and known popularly as the "vejuco de guaco." Guapo knew nothing of the scientific designation of the plant, but he had long ago been taught the valuable properties of its leaves as an antidote against the bite of the most poisonous snakes. What, then, did Guapo with the leaves of the vejuco?
The bird fought with fresh courage, knowing that he had taken precautions against a fatal result, while the snake defended itself with the energy of despair. This time the battle was a short one. The guaco, using its wings, succeeded in striking its antagonist upon the upraised head, and quickly following up the blow, planted his talons so as to encircle the throat of his victim.
When first noticed, it was perched upon the top of a high tree, but it soon flew to another not so high, uttering as it went, the "Guaco Guaco!" It then pitched itself to a still lower branch, and was evidently after something which none of the party could see. That something, however, soon became apparent.
In after years, however, I was enabled to classify his "charm," which was no other than the Aristolochia serpentaria a species closely allied to the "bejuco de guaco," that alexipharmic rendered so celebrated by the pens of Mutis and Humboldt.
Don Pablo recognised them as the leaves of a plant of the genus Mikania, and known popularly as the "vejuco de guaco." Guapo knew nothing of the scientific designation of the plant, but he had long ago been taught the valuable properties of its leaves as an antidote against the bite of the most poisonous snakes. What, then, did Guapo with the leaves of the vejuco?
Another has a purple breast with black wings, and tail and every other part of a light and glossy blue. The pompadour cotinga has a purple body and white wings, their four first feathers tipped with brown. None of these have any song. The last, however, utters sounds something like wallababa. They feed on the fig, wild guaco, and other fruit-trees.
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