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THE EAGLE OF THE SEA. 
in Britain. Tlie arctic regions generally, tire coasts of 
Norway, the east coast of North America as far south as 
the Gulf of Mexico, are its chief habitats. Macgillivray 
says that he has not met with it alive, or if he has, did not 
distinguish it from the other species. Very little is known 
of its habits, which are said to resemble those of Kichard- 
son's Skua, or Jager, as it is sometimes called. 
It is most likely the common Skua that Mant describes 
in these animated lines : — 
'Twere harder task for him to bear, 
Whoe'er thy nesting place should dare 
To storm, and war with thine or thee, 
Brown Skua, Eagle of tlie sea. 
Thou island king ! ^Vlio now art fain 
At large to haunt the wintry main ; 
At large, thy summer sojourn past, 
To daily with the stormy blast, 
And sport thee on the boundless tide. 
Nor longer in thy port abide, 
'Mid Shetland's northern wares, that break 
Round craggy Foulah's lonely peak. 
Bird of the sea, and sea-girt throne ! 
Who on thy cere- clad bill alone 
The plundering falcon's ensign wear'st, 
Alone of ocean's wanderers tear'st 
The prey, with hooked claws acute, 
Projected from the palmate foot; 
Strong through the billowy deep to swim, 
More strong to scud o'er ocean's brin), 
Or forage in the aerial height : 
Scared, intercepted in his flight. 
Through fear of thee the ravening gull 
Disgorges from his gullet, full 
Of fresh-caught fish, the finny prey, 
Caught in its rapid seaward way; 
The finny prey is doom'd to fill 
Thy mightier gorge and stronger bill : 
Nor dares the eagle's self to meet 
Thy prowess, when thy island seat 
Thou hold'st the Boreal waves among, 
Guard of thy nest, and cherish' d young: 
Nor safe is venturous man to brave 
Thy fastness in the mountain cave, 
And of its treasur'd brood despoil; 
Lest, 'mid his ineifoctual toil, 
