SEA-EAGLES. _^ — -' 209 



by the aid of a rope lowered from above. Many anecdotes record the boldness of 

 the Irish peasants in thus attacking the strongholds of both golden and sea-eagles. 

 The food of the white -tailed sea-eagle, like that of its allies, consists chiefly of 

 fish and water-fowl ; although these birds will at times not disdain a meal of carrion, 

 while they probably carry off an occasional lamb or kid. It is related that an 

 instance has occurred of a sea-eagle, when attempting to carry off a large salmon, 

 into which it had firmly fixed its talons, being partially dragged under water by 

 its prey; both bird and fish being ultimately secured by a peasant who had witnessed 

 the scene. In India, Pallas's sea-eagle, according to Mr. Hume, always builds in 

 trees, its nest being very similar to that of the last species, and the eggs laid from 

 November to January. The nest may be occupied for several years, but the con- 

 struction of a new one demands immense labour on the part of the birds. " I once," 

 writes Mr. Hume, "watched a young pair constantly occupied for a full month, build- 

 ing a new nest, which they were still at work finishing off when I left. Nothing 

 can seem rougher or more rugged than their nest when finished, and yet out of 

 every four sticks and branches that they brought, they rejected and threw down at 

 least three. Both birds brought materials, and side by side the pair would work 

 away, throwing down almost as many sticks as they brought ; then apparently they 

 would quarrel over the matter ; there would be a great squealing, and one would fly 

 away and sit sulky on some clifi'-point near at hand ; after a time the one left on 

 the nest would go off in quest of materials. Immediately the other would drop 

 softly on to the nest and be very busy till the absent bird returned, not unfre- 

 quently with a fish instead of a stick. It is a curious fact, that if the female, 

 which is much the larger, brought the fish to the nest, the male set to work on it 

 at once, without so much as ' bj'' your leave ' ; while if the male brought it, the 

 female used to eye it, sidle gradually up, and only take slow and modest mouthfuls. 

 When, however, the female begins to sit, the male will bring her fish or fowl, and 

 go off for other food for himself, not attempting to share it with her ; and, when 

 not on the nest, neither seems to presume with the other's capture without per- 

 mission." The eggs, like those of the other species, are uniformly coloured, being 

 in this case of a pale greyish white ; their usual number is three. Like the white- 

 tailed sea-eagle, this species will often lay again when its nest is robbed; but, 

 according to Captain Bendire, this is never the case with the American white-headed 

 species. All are agreed that so long as there are merely eggs in the nest Pallas's 

 sea-eagle never makes any attempt at defending its home ; and, according to the 

 extensive experience of Mr. Hume, the same is the case after the young are hatched. 

 Hutton relates, however, that a native whom he had sent up a tree to deposit a 

 nest, was once fiercely attacked, at first by the female, and then by both birds in 

 concert ; and that it was necessary to disable the eagles by shooting, in order to 

 prevent the man being hurled from the tree. 



Continuing his account of its habits, Mr. Hume states that Pallas's sea-eagle is 

 never found far away from rivers, lakes, or swamps. " Early in the morning, even 

 in the cold weather, it goes down to the water-side, and has a good bathe. It is 

 amusing to watch this large bird standing up to its belly in water, sitting down, 

 first on one side, then on the other, so as to wash the wings and back, ducking the 

 head in and out, and splashing, spluttering, and fluttering the wings for all the 



VOL. IV. — 14 



