BIRDS OF PREY. 23 



quadrupeds as are not large, or powerfully armed, fall victims to their voracity; and Schomburghk was 

 told by the natives that instances are on record of children having been carried off and devoured. 

 From the same source we learn that the Sloth is sometimes literally torn piece by piece from the 

 branches when it cannot be induced to relax its hold by other means. We need scarcely say that we 

 do not vouch for this latter statement. By the monkey tribes that swarm and gambol in the South 

 American forests, the Harpy is regarded with such dread that, should a frolicsome party be made 

 aware of the approach of their powerful enemy, the terrified creatures at once beat a hasty retreat to the 

 thickest parts of the surrounding foliage, uttering the most pitiful cries as they endeavour to escape 

 from the impending danger, against which all attempts at defence would be useless. The eyrie of 

 the Harpy is built upon lofty trees, and the Indians assert that the same nest is employed for many 

 successive years : the eggs, as far as we can ascertain, have not as yet been found. These remark- 

 able birds are so highly esteemed by the native tribes, that the happy possessor of a live Harpy is 

 regarded with envy and increased respect by his less fortunate neighbours. Upon the women 

 devolves the task of feeding and tending these valuable members of the family party, whose feathers, 

 plucked from the -wings and tail twice in the year, afford the owners not only the means of barter for 

 any article they may desire, but are employed as much-coveted decorations for the head-dress and 

 accoutrements of a warrior. In Peru, the hunter who succeeds in capturing a Harpy is allowed the 

 privilege of taking his prize from door to door, to receive such articles as eggs, maize, or poultry, in 

 acknowledgment of his prowess. 



Pourlamaque informs us that in the countries watered by the Amazon, the flesh and fat of the 

 Harpy are considered valuable for healing purposes, both by the native and European inhabitants. 

 Many of these birds have been brought alive to Europe, but they never become tame; when confined, 

 they exhibit the most insatiable voracity, devouring every kind of animal food, but preferring to receive 

 their prey whilst it is still alive. They appear to feel no affection towards those that feed them, and 

 are so extremely ferocious that it is impossible to introduce even one of their own kind into the cage 

 tha.t they occupy. 



The SEA EAGLES (Haliaetos) constitute a well-defined group of very large birds, armed with 

 long and powerful beaks, which terminate in an abrupt hook, and rise but slightly above the cere ; the 

 tarsi are only partially covered with feathers ; the talons are long, sharp, and hooked, and the toes 

 distinctly separate ; the wings are large, the third quill longer than the rest, reaching almost to the 

 tip of the broad and more or less rounded tail. The plumage is rich, and usually of a grey colour ; 

 the feathers upon the head and nape are only slightly elongated, but terminate in a sharp point ; 

 the tail is usually, and the head occasionally, white. 



THE SEA EAGLE. 

 The Sea Eagle (Haliaetos albicilld) is met with in large numbers upon all European sea-coasts. 

 This species is at least two and a half, generally three feet long, and from seven to eight feet 

 broad; the wing measures two feet, and the tail one foot. The plumage of the full-grown birds is 

 greyish brown upon the head and throat, the body is fawn colour, the wings tipped with black, and 

 the tail with white. The eyes, beak, cere, and feet are yellow. As the Sea Eagle increases in age, 

 the colours of its feathers fade, until the upper part of the body is white, and the lower portion 

 greyish white. The young birds are principally brown, spotted, or mottled, with white beneath, and 

 have a dark tail. 



The White-headed Sea Eagle (Haliaetos leucoceplialus), the North American representative 



