5/2 REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



The diurnal birds of prey belonging to the order of Sea or Fishing 

 Eagles are distinguished from Eagles proper by their tarsi, which are 

 feathered only in the upper part, as well as by their feeding principally 

 on marine animals. 



Sea Eagles. 



Their name, Pygargus, which is derived from the Greek, means 

 "white-tail." They generally frequent the sea-shore, where they 

 feed on fish and aquatic birds ; and they occasionally pursue small 

 mammals, and even devour putrefied flesh. Their claws are very 

 powerful, and the strength of their vision is so great, that they can 

 see their aquatic prey swimming under the surface of the water. The 

 rapidity with which they descend through the air when striking at 

 their quarry is so wonderful, that many have compared it to lightning. 

 They even venture to attack the seal, but as they cannot lift their 

 victim, they cling to its back, forcing it on shore by means of their 

 wings. But this excess of boldness has been known to be fatal to 

 them ; large seals are strong enough to dive and drag their foe under 

 water, where the eagle meets with a miserable death ; for, having 

 buried its claws deeply in its quarry, it is often impossible for it to 

 disengage itself. 



Sea Eagles hunt in the night as well as day. They attack sea- 

 birds weaker than themselves, and take from them their food. They 

 are indefatigable in pursuit of Vultures, which they make disgorge, 

 and afterwards appropriate the results. Audubon observed, on the 

 shores of the Mississippi, a Sea Eagle pursuing a Vulture which had 

 just swallowed some intestine. Part of this protruded from the 

 Vulture's bill ; the Sea Eagle seized it, and forced the original pos- 

 sessor to give it up. 



The Sea Eagle of Europe (Halioetus albicilla, Fig. 262) lives in 

 the coldest regions of the North. It is common in Sweden and 

 Norway, where it builds. Its aerie is about two yards wide, and 

 is generally situated in the forests bordering on the sea or great 

 lakes. It visits the French coasts in the autumn, following flocks 

 of geese which are migrating to the south ; and it is again seen in 

 the spring, on its return to the high latitudes. In Russia the special 

 conditions of existence somewhat modify the habits of this bird, 

 where, living in the midst of the vast steppes, it feeds, not on fish, 

 for that is unprocurable, but on small quadrupeds, birds, and carrion. 

 This bird nearly attains to the size of the Golden Eagle. 



The Bald or White-headed Eagle {Halicetus leucocefihalus, Fig. 263) 

 is a native of North America. It builds its nest on the summit of 



