442 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



{Haliaetus albicilla). A few Imperial Eagles were observed, and 

 once I saw a Golden Eagle on a tree near a dead horse in 

 course of being devoured ; but the Sea-Eagle is to be seen 

 constantly. 



On the lagoons a pair of Sea-Eagles may often be seen harry- 

 ing the big flocks of Coots and Ducks. From a distance one 

 may frequently hear the noise made by the thousands of terrified 

 birds all rising in the air together at the Eagle's stoop at one of 

 their number, and on one occasion we picked up a Black-headed 

 Gull which we had just before seen struck down by one of these 

 birds ; but they also live largely on carrion. In a nest in a 

 huge silver poplar, in 1906, which contained a nearly full-grown 

 young bird, we found many skulls and blade-bones of calves and 

 other animals, proving that the eaglet had been chiefly brought 

 up on carrion picked up in the surrounding forest. 



This year (1907) two nests of Haliaetus albicilla were found 

 not more than five hundred yards apart. Between these two 

 nests was a small clearing, in the middle of which lay a defunct 

 Donkey. It was only found after the whole of the flesh had been 

 stripped from the bones ; but, as there was a big hollow tree 

 close at hand, and another dead Donkey within reach, I had the 

 fresh carcase brought to the spot in a bullock-cart, and stowed 

 myself away in the tree. Three whole days I spent therein, and 

 a very tight fit it was in spite of a lot of axe-work to enlarge the 

 shell of the tree. I have spent long hours in many uncomfort- 

 able positions, but I think this tree was the worst place I was 

 ever in. I had to stand — and it was only with the greatest 

 difficulty that I could squeeze myself in after the camera was set 

 up — and it was quite impossible to shift either of my feet without 

 upsetting the tripod. After a few hours the discomfort of such a 

 cramped and strained position became perfectly unbearable — 

 such torture I was in from being unable to vary my position. 

 The worst of it was that neither Eagles nor Vultures came to the 

 spot. The hole in front was too big to be filled up naturally 

 enough to deceive such keen-eyed birds, and the Donkey was 

 gradually devoured each night by the Jackals, until it ceased to 

 be an attraction. Magpies and Eavens were the only visitors in 

 the daytime, though for hours three Griffons sat motionless on a 

 dead tree close at hand. I could see them quite plainly from my 



