Clafsir. S E A E A G L E, 127 



and in that manner prefent themfelves to him. No 

 writer fince Clufius has defcribcd the Tea eagle : though 

 no uncommon fpecies, it feems at prefent to be but 

 little known ; being generally confounded with the 

 golden eagle, to which it bears fome refemblance. 

 The colors of the head, neck and body, are the fame ^ -r* 

 with the latter -, but much lighter, the tawny part in 

 this predominating : in fize it is far fuperior : the 

 bill is larger, more hooked, and more arched ; under- 

 neath grow feveral fhort, but ftrong hairs or briftles, 

 forming a fort of beard. This gave occafion to fome 

 writers to fuppofe it to be the aqiiila harhata or bearded 

 eagle of 'Pliny. The interior fides, and the tips of the 

 feathers of the tail, are of a deep brown \ the ex- 

 terior fides of fome are ferruginous, in others blotch- 

 ed with white. The legs are yellow, ftrong and 

 thick ; and feathered but little below the knees ; 

 which is an invariable fpecific difference between this- 

 and our firft fpecies. This nakednefs of the legs is 

 befides no fmall convenience to a bird who preys a- 

 mong the waters. The clav/s are of a deep and 

 fhining black, exceeding large and ilrong, and hooked 

 into a perfed: femicircle. 



All writers agree, that this eagle feeds principally 

 on fifh ; which it takes as they are fwimming near the 

 furface *, by darting itfelf down on them j not by 

 diving or fwimming, as feveral authors have invented, 

 who furnifh it for that purpofe with one webbed fooc 



* Martini fpeaking of what he calls the great eagles in the 

 weftern ifles, fays, that they failen their talons in the back of the 

 ii(h, commonly of falmon, which are often above water, or on the 

 (urface. 



K 4 to 



