i68 S E A E A G L E. Class II. 



of them in JVhinJield-park, Weftmordand \ and the 

 eagle foaring in the air, with a cat in its talons, 

 which Barlow drew from the very fadl which he faw 

 in Scotland*^ is of this kind. The cat's refiftance 

 brought both animals to the ground, when Barlow 

 took them up ; and afterwards caufed the event to 

 be engraved in the thirty-fixth plate of his collec- 

 tion of prints. Turner fays, that in his days, it 

 was too well known in England^ for it made hor- 

 rible deftrudion among the fifli ; he adds, the 

 fifhermen were fond of anointing their baits with 

 the fat of this bird, imagining that it had a peculiar 

 alluring quality : they were fuperftitious enough 

 to believe that whenever they^^ eagle hovered over 

 a piece of water, the fifh, (as if charmed) would 

 rife to the furface with their bellies upwards ; 

 and in that manner prefent themfelves to him. 

 No writer fince Clufius has defcribed the fea eagle ; 

 though no uncommon fpecies, it feems at prefent 

 to be but little known •, being generally confound- 

 ed with the golden eagle, to which it bears fome 

 refemblance. 

 Descrip. The color of the head, neck and body, are the 



fame with the latter ; but much lighter, the tawny 

 part in this predominating : in fize it is far fupe- 

 rior •, the extent of wings in fome being nine or ten 

 feet. The bill is larger, more hooked, and more 

 arched •, underneath grow feveral fhort, but flrong 

 hairs or bridles, forming a fort of beard. This 



* Mr. WalpoW^s catalogue of engfavers, p. 49. 



gave 



