THE WHITE-TAILED EAGLE 21 



incessant persecution to which it is subjected by shepherds 

 and gamekeepers, this handsome bird continues to hold its 

 own, and in these wild districts does not appear to become 

 any rarer. I have seen the heads and feet of this bird nailed 

 in dozens to the kennel doors, in company with one or two 

 of those of the Golden Eagle, and numbers of Eavens, Buz- 

 zards, and Peregrines. Passing sad it is to see such rare and 

 beautiful birds destroyed so wantonly. 



In this country no birds are more difficult to approach 

 closely than the Eagles ; but in Northern Africa, where man's 

 presence bodes no danger, I have frequently passed them 

 almost at arm's length. It is difficult therefore to examine 

 their actions very closely without the aid of a glass. Then 

 the birds may often be watched as they sit and sun them- 

 selves on the rock pinnacles and shelves, often with feathers 

 puffed out, or wings half-spread and drooping. They love to 

 bask in the sun, and often sit for hours scanning from their 

 lofty perch the wide panorama of moor and sea and lake that 

 spreads before them, and ever ready to sail swiftly off should 

 prey of any kind be descried. In his flight the White-tailed 

 Eagle very closely resembles the Golden Eagle, but perhaps 

 his actions are a trifle more laboured and Buzzard-like. 

 Sometimes he mounts slowly upwards in wide curves, 

 sailing with wings almost motionless and fully expanded, and 

 the tips of the quill feathers slightly recurved. Sometimes 

 a pair of birds may be seen in early spring high up in the 

 blue sky looking like specks, slowly sailing round and round 

 far above their eyrie on the rocks below. At this season 

 they often gambol in the air, buffet each other, and engage in 

 various freaks of flight, uttering at intervals their shrill yelping 

 cry. I have seen two rival birds engage in aerial combat, and 

 the way in which they turn and twist is truly marvellous. 

 Their powers of flight are also exhibited to perfection when they 

 try to drive off some small Hawk, Gull, or Crow that delighted 



