The Sea Eagle."] OF ORKNEY. . 33 



caught itself, or has been left by the otter. I have often seen 

 it soaring, at a vast height in the air, immediately over a con- 

 ger or other fish, which has by any accident been left dry by 

 the tide ; and this may shew us the vast strength of this crea- 

 ture's sight, which can take in such a small object at such a 

 great distance. 



The characters which distinguish this species from the last 

 are the legs, which are not feathered to the toes, (as in the 

 last) but only a little below the knees, and the want of the 

 band of white on its tail ; likewise its haunts are more about 

 the sea. 



Eagles of every kind (because of their rapacious manners, 

 and the harm they did to the inhabitants in destroying their 

 cattle), were in Orkney proscribed. In the old acts of the 

 country I find the following : u Anent slaying of the earne. 

 " Apud Kirkwal, decimo die Decembris, anno 16'25. The 

 " qlk day it is statute and ordained be Thomas Buchannan, 

 " sheriff-deput of Orkney, with consent of the gentlemen and 

 " suiters of court, being put for the tyme, y t whatsoever per- 

 " sone or persones shall slay the earne or eagle, shall have of 

 " the bailzie of the parochine, qr it shall happen him to slay 

 " the earne or eagle, viiid.*, for every rick within the paro- 

 " chine, except of the cottars who has not sheip ; and xxs.-j- 

 " to ilk persone for ilk earners nest it shall happen him to 



* Eightpence Scots, equal to ^d. sterling, then the price of a hen in Orkney, 

 f Twenty shillings, equal to one shilling and eightpence sterling, then the price 

 of a sheep. 



E 



