WHITE-TAILED SEA-EACLE. (j^ 



are effaced from it by the weather, and the keen eye 

 of the eagle, as he sails over it, can distinguish nothing 

 but a tuft of Iieatli simihir to those around. A carcass 

 is then procured, a sheep that has been found dead on 

 the hills, or an old and useless horse that has been 

 taken out and killed for the purpose. It is placed at 

 the distance of fifteen or twenty yards from the hut, 

 so as to be visible from within through the small aper- 

 ture. The hunter enters, spreads a layer of heath on 

 the floor, closes the entrance behind him by pulling 

 into it the bundle, lays him down on liis side, places 

 the muzzle of his gun in the aperture, and prepares for 

 a tedious watch. Hours often pass, and yet no bird 

 makes its appearance. Heavy rains descend, penetrate 

 the roof, and leave him in a very uncomfortable state ; 

 or he is chilled by the piercing winds of winter. He 

 is every now and then surveying the few yards of 

 ground before him with an impatient eye. At length 

 he hears a well-known voice, and presently perceives 

 on the nearest eminence a large raven, which looks 

 anxiously around, and croaks, then hops forward a step 

 or two, rises on wing, and alights on the carcass. 

 Here it again looks round for a few moments, and 

 commences its feast, first devouring the eye, then the 

 tongue, if it can get hold of it, and, lastly, picking 

 under the tail. Another raven appears, and frequently 

 many in succession ; but as the hunter knows not how 

 near the eagle may be, he refrains from shooting, or 

 even disturbing them. Sometimes a gull of the large 

 black-backed species, or a burgomaster, or even a her- 

 ring gull, appears with its unsullied white plumage, and 

 walks anxiously about, but does not dare to attempt a 



