XLV. 

 FALCO ALBICILLA. (linn.) 



White-tailed Eagle, Sea Eagle. 



The Sea Eagle is more numerous than the Golden Eagle 

 and breeds like it in the most inaccessible rocks of Orkney, 

 Shetland, and the Highlands of Scotland. Latham also men- 

 tions an instance of its breeding in the north of England, near 

 Keswick, in Cumberland, communicated to him by Dr. Hey- 

 sham. The nest is usually formed of a large quantity of sticks, 

 but in Shetland, where no such materials are to be met with, 

 they have substituted in their place those long foot-stalks of the 

 larger sea-weeds, by which they are attached to the rocks ; 

 and so pliable are these, and so well do they seem to answer the 

 purpose, that I should much doubt whether a Shetland Eagle, 

 having his choice of both, would ever have recourse to the more 

 commonly used material ; the nest is lined with dry grass, wool, 

 and any such soft substance ; the eggs are two, and sometimes 

 three, or probably even four in number. The few specimens 

 which I have examined are either altogether spotless or like 

 the plate very faintly marked. I think it most probable 

 that some will be found much more boldly spotted. 



