THE WHITE-TAILED EAGLE 49 



not common, and I believe on the decrease. It feeds in 

 that island on trout and char. In South Greenland it is 

 said to be common throughout the year, but to be found 

 in North Greenland only in the summer ; it is also met with 

 nesting in certain localities from the Arctic Circle to the 

 Mediterranean. I was informed while in the Maritime 

 Alps, that the Sea Eagle was found in that district, though 

 it was considerably outnumbered by the Golden Eagle. 

 It is of migratory disposition, and many of the north nest- 

 ing specimens winter in Southern Europe and North 

 Africa. A few of these birds are said to remain to nest 

 on the Canary Islands, Algeria, and Egypt. In Siberia 

 the White-tailed Eagle breeds south of the Arctic Circle, 

 and on the approach of winter moves down into Persia, 

 Turkestan, and Southern China, occasionally crossing the 

 Himalayas to India. In the Crimea, and eastward from 

 that point, it is replaced by Pallas' Sea Eagle, which has 

 been known to make its nest on a low sandy island of the 

 Black Sea ; and there is a tradition amongst the Tartars 

 that the wounds of its claws are fatal. Along the lower 

 Danube valley the Sea Eagle is numerous, but in Central 

 Russia it is rare. 



Description. — Head and upper neck ashy grey, inclining 

 to white with a creamy tinge. Most of the feathers are 

 dull brown at the base. Lower neck, forepart of the back, 

 and wing coverts dull brown, all the feathers being broadly 

 edged or terminated with dirty white, tinged with cream 

 colour. The remainder of the back, rump, and upper 

 tail coverts dark brown, some of the latter being marked 

 or marbled with white ; quills blackish brown, the shafts 

 whitish. Inner secondaries of a somewhat lighter brown, 

 scapulars dark broAMi. Tail rounded, and pure white 

 except at the base, where the feathers are blackish brown. 

 Under parts brown. Under tail coverts dark brown. 

 Bill pale bluish, becoming yellow at the base. In old 



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