Chap. 3.] 
EAGLES. 
483 
with remarkably small wings, while the rest of the body is 
larger than the others ; but it is of a timid and degenerate 
nature, so much so, that even a raven can beat it. It is always 
famishing and ravenous, and has a plaintive murmuring cry. 
It is the only one among the eagles that will carry off the 
dead carcase ; the others settle on the spot where they have 
killed their prey. The character of this species causes the 
fifth one to be known by the distinctive name of " gnesios,"'^* 
as being the genuine eagle, and the only one of untainted 
lineage ; it is of moderate size, of rather reddish colour, and 
rarely to be met with. The haliaetus is the last, and is re- 
markable for its bright and piercing eye. It poises itself aloft, 
and the moment it catches sight of a fish in the sea below, 
pounces headlong upon it, and cleaving the water with its 
breast, carries off its prey. 
The eagle which we have mentioned as forming the third 
species, pursues the aquatic birds in the vicinity of standing 
waters : in order to make their escape they plunge into the 
water every now and then, until at length they are overtaken 
by lassitude and sleep, upon which the*eagle immediately seizes 
them. The contest that takes place is really a sight worthy 
to be seen. The bird makes for the shore to seek a refuge, 
and especially if there should happen to be a bed of reeds 
there ; while in the meantime the eagle endeavours to drive it 
away with repeated blows of its wings, and tumbles into the 
water in its attempts to seize it. While it is standing on the 
shore its shadow is seen by the bird, which immediately dives 
beneath, and then making its way in an opposite direction, 
emerges at some point at which it thinks it is the least likely 
to be looked for. This is the reason why these birds swim 
in flocks, for when in large numbers they are in no danger 
from the enemy ; as by dashing up the spray with their wings 
they blind him. 
Again, it often happens that the eagle is not able to carry 
the bird aloft on account of its weight, and in consequence 
they both of them sink together. The haliaetus, and this 
one only, beats its young ones while in an unfledged state, 
5S4 Yvrj<nog. True-born,'* "genuine." Cuvier thinks that this may 
be the royal or imperial eagle, Falco imperialis. 
25 The great sea- eagle, according to Cuvier, the varieties of which (in 
age) are called by Linnaeus Falco albicaudus/' and Falco ossifraga." 
I I 2 
