RAPACIOUS BIRDS. 63 



WHITE-TAILED EAGLE, which is also a native of Great 

 Britain, is much more common than the golden, 

 and Mr. Yarrell says, " . . . may be seen fre- 

 quently on some part of the coast, inhabiting the 

 high rocks and cliffs that overlook the sea, from 

 whence it keeps a look-out ; and, when hungry, is 

 equally ready to seize either fowl or fish, and has 

 been seen to attack and feed on seals. It also 

 shows a great partiality for fawns and venison, 

 and is sometimes killed in deer-parks and forests." 



This eagle builds its nests on high rocks, and 

 lays two eggs. It breeds in the Shetland Isles 

 and also in Ireland and some other localities, and 

 is much more numerous in winter than in sum- 

 mer ; hence it seems probable that this species is 

 migratory. 



A pair of Skua gulls were once seen to chase, and 

 completely beat off a large sea eagle. They struck 

 at him several times, and at each stroke he screamed 

 loudly, but never offered to return the insult. 



This species is probably the only eagle now to 

 be met with in England, in a natural state. It is 

 the one most generally seen, and is " the eagle" 

 of common conversation all over Britain ; hence 

 many of the anecdotes usually told of the golden 

 eagle really belong to this kind. 



According to Mr. Mudie, the most favourite 

 resort of this bird is the western part of Eoss, 



