THE 



BIRDS OF RAINHAM 



SEA EAGLE. 

 Haliaetus albicilla (Linnaeus). 



A pair of Sea Eagles paid my district a visit in the 

 month of November, 1879, one of them while sitting 

 upon an oak tree over a furze bank frequented by 

 rabbits, soon fell a victim to a sportsman's gun, a fine 

 large Eagle in mottled plumage and with a whitish 

 tail : Another eagle was soon afterwards seen flying 

 about 1 50 yards high over the district ; throughout 

 this very severe winter it was seen to frequent 

 manure heaps, killed a rook caught in a trap, and fed 

 chiefly upon the marsh hares, carrying them over the 

 marsh walls where generally a good look out was 

 kept ; however, in course of time, a shepherd with a 

 gun approached, when too near to be pleasant his gun 

 happened to miss fire, the Eagle flew away and was 

 no more seen. 



