BIRDS OF PREY 401 



is coincident with the tree-zone. The spotted eagle, although one of the most 

 common birds-of-prey in parts of central Europe, does not wander far north ; and 

 the golden eagle, although appearing here and there in Prussia and Sweden, is 

 really a bird of south-eastern Europe. Southern Sweden is the most northerly 

 country inhabited by the buzzard ; but the rough-footed buzzard is essentially a 

 Siberian type. The range of the common kite extends to the latitude of southern 

 Sweden, but the black kite is not seen so far north. Although the osprey inhabits 

 almost every European country, its real home is the north ; and the sea-eagle is 

 certainly more a bird of the Arctic than of central Europe. The white-tailed sea- 

 eagle (Haliaetus albicilla) resembles the true eagles in general appearance, but is 

 broadly distinguished by its cleft toes, and by the feathering of the legs being 

 restricted to the upper half. Frequenting the seashore and the banks of large 

 rivers, this splendid bird constructs its nest at no great distance away. This 

 bulky structure is often a couple of yards across, and in consequence of annual 

 additions may grow to a yard in height. Towards the end of May it contains two 

 or three white eggs, which generally become stained and blotched during incuba- 

 tion. On the Siberian steppes, and in other lonely situations where trees are 

 wanting, the sea-eagle builds among reeds or low bushes, or even on the sand ; 

 but more generally the nest is placed on steep rocks or on cliffs near the sea, where 

 caverns and projecting corners afford safe shelter. When the sea-eagle dwells in the 

 forest, besides its nesting-tree, it generally takes possession of another high tree with 

 dead branches as a resting and sleeping place ; and on islands destitute of trees it 

 will spend the night on sand-hills or the rocks and cliffs of the shore. Sometimes, 

 indeed, it will even rest on the water like a duck. In most or all cases it has its 

 favourite places of resort, as in the island of Hiddensee in the Baltic, where about 

 a dozen eagles a year have been shot, all of which roosted on the same tree. The 

 period of incubation of the sea-eagle lasts about five weeks, the young becoming 

 fledged in about three months. So amply provided with food are the young that 

 the surroundings of the nest resemble a slaughter-house, but as soon as they are 

 independent they are driven away by the old birds. After this a period of three 

 or four years elapses before they begin to breed and have a nest of their own. 

 When the young are reared the old birds frequent the shore, or the banks of large 

 rivers, in search of food. They are generally seen in parties of from three to eight ; 

 sea-eagles being sociable birds which hunt in company, although they often quarrel 

 over their prey. The flight, which is seldom very high, is powerful and 

 characteristic but not buoyant — the sea-eagle being a heavy bird, not naturally 

 shy, although becoming so on account of the dangers met with on its long 

 journeys. Although sometimes seizing hares, geese, or ducks, it feeds principally 

 on fish. When swooping on the latter, it often disappears beneath the water, until 

 it appears again shortly with a fish struggling in its talons. Sometimes, however, 

 it is stated to be dragged down and drowned by its intended victim. 



The habitat of the sea-eagle extends over Greenland, the whole of Europe, 

 and the north of Asia as far as Japan. Its southern breeding-places are the 

 countries along the Danube, such as southern Hungary, and farther down the 

 liver to the Servian frontier ; it nests more frequently in the Dobrudscha, which 

 is so rich in all kinds of water-fowl, but its chief nesting-grounds are on the 

 vol. 1. — 26 



