8 FALCONID^E. 



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when flying in the opposite direction. Favourite resorts are 

 the marshy districts of Corsica, Languedoc, and Provence, 

 where they feed on water-fowl, snakes, fish, and the larger 

 insects. They kill and eat also hares and rabhits, hut 

 have never been known to attack any larger prey. They 

 build their nests in lofty trees. The greyish white spots, 

 which give name to the species, are most numerous and 

 distinct in very young specimens, and in the full-grown 

 bird disappear. The bird is then very like the Golden 

 Eagle, but one third smaller. It is sometimes called the 

 " Rough-footed Eagle." 



THE WHITE-TAILED EAGLE. 



HALIAETUS ALBICILLA. 



Tail not longer than the wings ; upper plumage brown, that of the head and neck 

 lightest, lower, chocolate brown; tail white; beak, cere, and feet yellowish 

 white ; claws black. In young birds the tail is dark brown, and the beak and 

 cere are of a darker hue. Length of the male, two feet four inches ; of the 

 female, two feet ten inches. Eggs dirty white with a few pale red marks. 



THE White-tailed Eagle, known also by the name of the 

 Sea Eagle, is about equal in size to the Golden Eagle, but 

 differs considerably in character and habits ; for while the 

 latter has been known to pounce on a pack of Grouse and 

 carry off two or three from before the very eyes of the 

 astonished sportsman and his dogs, or to appropriate for 

 his own special picking a hunted hare when about to 

 become the prey of the hounds, the White-tailed Eagle 

 has been observed to fly terror-struck from a pair of 

 Skua Gulls, making no return for their heavy buffets but 

 a series of dastardly shrieks. The ordinary food too of 

 the nobler bird is living animals, though, to tell the truth, 

 he is always ready to save himself the trouble of a chase, 

 if he can meet with the carcase of a sheep or lamb ; but 

 the White-tailed Eagle feeds principally on fish, water- 

 fowl, the smaller quadrupeds, and offal, whether of quad- 



