86 BRITISH BIRDS. 
Genus HALIAETUS. 
The genus Haliaetus was established by Savigny in 1810, in his ‘ Systeme 
des Oiseaux de l’ Egypte et de la Syrie,’ p. 8, for the reception of H. albicilla, 
which therefore becomes the type. This genus had previously formed 
a part of the genus Aquila of Brisson. The latter was included by 
Linneeus in his genus Falco, and is one of Brisson’s genera which are 
additional to those in the twelfth edition of Linnus’s ‘Systema Nature,’ 
specially admitted in the explanation of Rule 2 of the Stricklandian Code. 
The Sea-Eagles may at once be distinguished from the true Eagles by 
having the lower half of the tarsus denuded of feathers, and from all other 
European genera of Raptorial Birds by its being scutellated on the front 
and reticulated behind, except from the Kites, which have the tail very 
long, more than four times the length of the tarsus. The claws are deeply 
hooked. The wings are long and ample, the tail slightly rounded. These 
birds are less vigorous than the true Eagles, although possessed of great 
strength and daring. 
The genus Haliaetus is almost cosmopolitan. With the probable excep- 
tion of the Neotropical Region, the Sea-Eagles are found throughout the 
world, from the Arctic regions to the tropics. In the British Islands but 
one species of the genus breeds, although another, the White-headed Sea- 
Eagle of North America, has been said to occur. 
They feed much on carrion, fish, small and weakly quadrupeds, and 
reptiles. 
They build large bulky nests on trees and rocks, made of sticks, roots, 
turf, and lined with moss and green plants and wool. The eggs are two 
or three in number, generally pure white, or sparingly marked with pale 
brown. 
