BIRDS OF PREY 137 



His legs are covered with scales instead of feathers, and 

 large scales cover the toes also ; his tail is white. It is 

 impossible to make a mistake between the two birds at 

 any period, if one single trait is remembered, namely 

 that the golden eagle is feathered down to the toes, 

 whereas the sea eagle's legs are covered with large 

 scales. 



I have seen the sea eagle when his temper was 

 roused ; he was a fine fellow then ; the feathers on his 

 head were raised, and the hackled feathers on his neck 

 bluffed out, his body in a crouching position, and his 

 wings working ready for a spring. His appearance 

 then, combined with his yelp, gave one notice in very 

 plain language that it would be wise to quit and give 

 him room to get better tempered. The two that the 

 warrener shot did not die without a fierce struggle, for 

 they were only hit in the wing. 



In a state of captivity the sea eagle is as little 

 to be trusted as the golden, especially when out of 

 temper. It is pleasant to know that at the present 

 time a few gentlemen who have large properties where 

 both species are found have given strict orders for the 

 protection of these noble birds ; and so the greatest 

 ornaments of the mountain side and the dizzy sea cliff 

 may yet be saved from extermination. A price has 

 been set on their heads for many years, and a good 



