86 BRITISH BIRDS. 



Genus HALIAETUS. 



The genus Haliaetus was established by Savigny in 1810, in his ' Systeme 

 des Oiseaux de FEgypte et de la Syrie/ p. 8, for the reception of H. albicilla, 

 which therefore becomes the type. This genus had previously formed 

 a part of the genus Aquila of Brisson. The latter was included by 

 Linneeus in his genus Falco, and is one of Brisson's genera which are 

 additional to those in the twelfth edition of Linnaeus' s ' Systema Naturae/ 

 specially admitted in the explanation of Rule 2 of the Stricklandian Code. 



The Sea-Eagles may at once be distinguished from the true Eagles by 

 having the lower half of the tarsus denuded of feathers, and from all other 

 European genera of Raptorial Birds by its being scutellated on the front 

 and reticulated behind, except from the Kites, which have the tail very 

 long, more than four times the length of the tarsus. The claws are deeply 

 hooked. The wings are long and ample, the tail slightly rounded. These 

 birds are less vigorous than the true Eagles, although possessed of great 

 strength and daring. 



The genus Haliaetus is almost cosmopolitan. With the probable excep- 

 tion of the Neotropical Region, the Sea-Eagles are found throughout the 

 world, from the Arctic regions to the tropics. In the British Islands but 

 one species of the genus breeds, although another, the White-headed Sea- 

 Eagle of North America, has been said to occur. 



They feed much on carrion, fish, small and weakly quadrupeds, and 

 reptiles. 



They build large bulky nests on trees and rocks, made of sticks, roots, 

 turf, and lined with moss and green plants and wool. The eggs are two 

 or three in number, generally pure white, or sparingly marked with pale 

 brown. 



