150 EAGLES AND EAGLE-LIKE BIRDS. 



searching the sea from a considerable height and 

 swooping down to clutch any fish coming near the 

 Surface. It nests also in trees, upon rocky islands 

 in inland lakes, and at times upon the ground. By 

 land it pre3'-s upon hares, rabbits, grouse, &c., besides 

 following its fishing habits upon inland waters. It 

 feeds upon carrion also. The cry is a shrill scream. 

 Being a bird of dimensions comparable only with 

 those of the Golden Eagle, it may when in adult 

 plumage be at once distinguished from the latter by 

 its pure-white tail, besides having the legs unfeathered. 

 Young birds of the White-Tailed Eagle have the tail 

 of a whitish -brown, whilst those of the Golden Eagle 

 have the half nearer the body white, the rest forming 

 a broad terminal band. 



COMMON BUZZARD.— Plate 68. 2 to 2 3 inches. 

 Upper plumage brown generally, with transverse bars 

 on the broad tail ; neck and upper breast also brown, 

 becoming white on lower breast, with detached brown 

 blotches ; flanks and thigh-feathers brown ; under 

 sides of tail-feathers whitish, with twelve dull cross- 

 bars ; under sides of wings brown, with large white 

 patch ; bill dark and hooked ; irises, cere, and legs 

 yellow. Resident. 



Eggs. — 3-4, dirty-white, clouded, blotched and 

 spotted with rust-colour; 2 '2 6 x 1'75 inches(platel27). 



Nest, — A pile of sticks, lined with dry grass, wool, 

 and fresh leaves, placed on inland scrub-covered cliflfs 

 or in a tree in wooded country. 



Distribution. — In England in the Lake District ; 



