THE SEA-EAGLES. 1 65 



dinavia, Germany, and Russia, as well as in the valley of the 

 Danube. Eastwards it extends across Asia to Kamtchatka, 

 and in winter the species is found to the southward in China 

 and Japan, and even visits India. 



In North America its pl.ice is taken by the Bald Eagle 

 {Haliactns kucocephalus), but the European species extends to 

 Greenland, where it is resident. 



Habits. — By many writers this species is spoken of as the 

 Sea-Eagle, and in most of its range it appears to frequent the 

 sea-coast, but it is also found on inland waters and lakes, and 

 is probably nowhere more plentiful in Europe than in the valley 

 of the Danube. The food of the White-tailed Eagle consists 

 of the smaller game, such as hares, young deer, and duclcs, 

 and it also feeds largely on carrion. It will likewise catch 

 fish, and in Pomerania Mr. Seebohm says that it often makes 

 considerable havoc in the carp-ponds. Its nature is said to be 

 somewhat cowardly, and one of these Eagles will allow itself to 

 be driven off by a Peregrine or a pair of Ravens. 



Nest. — This is a huge structure of sticks, added to year by 

 year, until it attains an immense size. It is often built on a 

 rock in the middle of a lake in inland districts, but the site 

 varies a good deal, and the nest is as often built in a tree, and 

 on rarer occasions on the ground. In Egypt the nest has 

 been found among reed-beds, and similar instances have been 

 recorded from Europe. It is, however, often placed on the 

 ledges of cliffs, and is composed entirely of sticks and a little 

 heather, with some coarse grass as lining. 



Eggs. — Two in number ; white or whity-brown, when they 

 have become nest-stained. The brownish markings which are 

 sometimes seen on them are apparently always the result of 

 such staining. The eggs are somewhat smaller than those 

 of the Golden Eagle, and are rounder in form, and coarser in 

 texture. Axis, 2-7-3-I5; diam., 2"2-2"5. 



We now pass on to the Kites, whose connection with the 

 Eagles is maintained by such forms as the Brahminy-Kites(^^7//- 

 astiir) of India and Australia, which approach the Sea-Eagles in 

 form, but have the manners of a Kite. In Africa, and again in 

 North America, occur the Swallow-tailed Kites, of which Rio- 



