118 THE SEA-EAGLE. 



But though it be always found near the waters, it is 

 properly a land bird, and can neither rest nor feed 

 except upon the land ; consequently, it is never found 

 upon the ocean, or near low shores, though it is by no 

 means confined to lakes and inlets, but may be ob- 

 served at every headland which is lofty and lonely 

 enough for its residence. Many tales are told of 

 conflicts between these eagles and the larger inha- 

 bitants of the sea. The eagle can strike in the water, 

 and retain in its hooked talons, fishes that it cannot 

 lift into the air, though it can keep them at the surface. 

 The larger cod, which are very abundant on those parts 

 of the coast which the eagle haunts, and the larger 

 salmon, in the bays, or in those lakes which are near 

 the sea, are those of which the tales are usually told ; 

 but we have heard similar stories of the basking 

 shark. 



If the fish be near the surface, and cod, especially, 

 swim so near it, that from a promontory, a white " blink " 

 may be seen over the shoal, if numerous, the eagle 

 dashes down, plunges its crooked talons into the prey, 

 and clutches them with such force, that it cannot dis- 

 entangle them, even though so disposed. The lacer- 

 ation, the pain, and the encumbrance, prevent the fish 

 from darting off with that activity which it could exert 

 if free ; and the exertions of the eagle, though not 

 adequate to lifting the fish into the air, are very capable 

 of keeping it at the surface, as the difference of specific 

 gravity between even the living fish and the water, is 

 but trifling. Thus a struggle ensues ; the fish en- 

 deavours to dive, and the eagle strives to pull it above 

 the water, so as to be able to strike it behind the head 



