344 THE GREAT SEA-EAGLE. 



thick. The cry of the wild swan is very loud, and may be 

 heard at a great distance, from which the name of '* Hooper " 

 is derived. When they fly high, and numbers of different 

 ages and sexes are mingled together, their notes are far from 

 disagreeble. 



Belonging to the family of the Fulconidce are birds of the 

 eagle kind, which fish on their own account, robbing others 

 of their prey when they can, and pursuing nearly the same 

 method of dashing from a height upon the fish in the Avater. 

 The Great Sea-Eagle is a distinguished member of this pre- 

 datory family, measuring in length three feet, and in extent 

 of wings six feet six inches. This bird often presents a 

 fine feature in the Avild and desolate landscape. Its most 

 favorite haunts in Britain are the northern coasts of Scot- 

 land, where the headlands reach a stupendous height, are 

 perpendicular on the face, and where the shelvej and ledges 

 selected for breeding or roosting-places are secure from 

 aggression either from above or beneath. Here the sea- 

 eagle resides constantly at one season, or he finds a safe 

 shelter during the night, after his more extended hunting 

 excursions. Here he is monarch of all he surveys ; amidst 

 the numerous sea-fowl, his companions, his pale gray-tinted 

 plumage and outspread tail being conspicuous when opposed 

 to the dark green sea or the deep and rich shades of many 

 of these splendid precipices. Although of great size and 

 imposing aspect, it is less elegant than the golden eagle, 

 and inferior in courage and activity to many of the smaller 

 species of the tribe. When standing, its postures are by no 

 means graceful, but the keenness of its bright and fierce eye 

 enlivens its appearance, and under excitement it throws 

 itself into beautiful and picturesque attitudes, drawing back 

 its head, and erecting the narrow and pointed feathers of 

 the neck. 



Besides a fondness for fish — in capturing which, however, 

 the sea-eagle is not half so dexterous as the osprey — the bird 



