174 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



rounded tip and is straight and shallow. Nostrils oblong and very 

 sparsely covered by bristle-like feathers of lores. {See fig., p. 131). 

 Soft parts. — Bill and cere pale yellow (in juvenile bill horn- 

 colour, cere greenish) ; legs and feet j T ellow, claws blackish ; iris 

 yellow (in juvenile brown). 



Characters and allied forms. — No subspecies determined. 

 Large size (great bulk) enormous bill, graduated tail and scutellated 

 tarsus distinguish White-tailed Eagle from other British birds. 



Field-characters. — At rest a heavy, lumpish-looking bird, 

 lacking alertness of Golden Eagle. Will sit almost motionless for 

 hours on ground or perched near water's edge looking more like 

 a brown stump than a bird. In flight enormous breadth of wing 

 and large size are very conspicuous, and in adult uniform brown 

 colouring with light coloured, almost white, head and transparent 

 looking white tail are characteristic. Note a querulous chatter, 

 insignificant for so large a bird. Flight powerful but deliberate. 

 (F.C.R.J.) 



Breeding-habits. — In British Isles almost all nests seem to have 

 been placed on ledges of cliffs, usually by sea, or exceptionally 

 on rocky ground on islands. Abroad not uncommon in some 

 districts to find nests on high trees or among high reeds or on 

 sandbanks in estuaries. Nest. — A bulky edifice of large sticks, 

 heather-twigs, turf, etc., with bits of seaweed, moss, driftwood, grass 

 and wool at times in lining. Eggs. — Normally 2, but 1 only in 

 case of old birds, while 3 have been recorded rarely. Colour white, 

 smooth in grain, often nest-stained, but rarely showing any trace 

 of true markings . 100 eggs average 73 .9 X 57 .8 . Max. : 84.4 X 60 .7 

 and 82.2x63.5. Min. : 66x54 and 68x53 mm. Breeding-season. 

 — About April 10-22 in Scotland, but in S.E. Europe as early as 

 February. Incubation. — By both sexes, but chiefly by female ; 

 period 35 days (Faber). Single brooded. 



Food. — Fish (salt and fresh water), carrion, rabbits, sea-birds, 

 poultry and lambs are most frequently recorded. Stranded as 

 well as fresh fish are eaten ; hares occasionally taken ; also wild 

 duck of various species and many kinds of sea-bird (Guillemot, 

 Puffin, Kittiwake and other Gulls), Coot, Sandpipers. Remains 

 of hedgehog also found in nest by writer. 



Distribution. — British Isles. — Apparently extinct as breeding 

 species. Pair bred Shetland until 1908, when male apparently 

 killed and hen (white bird) brooded on nest each year until 

 1918 when disappeared. Nowhere known now in Ireland. Rare 

 migrant to most maritime counties and rare vagrant inland, such 

 visitors being usually immature. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Northern and eastern parts of Europe 

 to eastern Mediterranean (formerly Lower Egypt and Red Sea) 

 Persia, Mesopotamia and northern Asia to Kamtschatka, also 



