VULTURINE SEA-EAGLE. 



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being 23 inches, while the female is li inches longer. The beak and head are 

 elongated and the wings very long and pointed, while the short tail is very 

 markedly rounded. In the adult bird the colour of the plumage, with the 

 exception of the ends of the primary quills, the secondaries, most of the scapulars, 

 and the tail-feathers (save their tips), which are black, is pure white. The cere is 

 grey, the bare skin of the face flesh-coloured, the iris light yellow, and the foot 

 rosy flesh-coloured. The feathers of the hinder part of the head are somewhat 



VULTURINE SEA-EAGLE (J uat. size). 



elongated, so as to form a slight crest. In the young the whole plumage is dark 

 brown, and the iris also brown ; the complete change to the adult dress not taking 

 place till the third or fourth year. This bird is exclusively African, and is met 

 with on the west coast from Senegambia to Angola, and on the opposite side of the 

 continent on Pemba Island, near Zanzibar. Although so like a vulture in general 

 appearance, in its habits it much more resembles the sea-eagles. According to 

 Reichenow, the vulturine sea-eagle is one of the commonest birds on the west coast. 

 Essentially a fish-eater, it frequents the sea-coast and rivers, and is but rarely seen 



