THK WHITK-TAII.KI) KAdUO. 
THE WHITE-TAILED EAGLE. 
Haliwetvs alhinUa. 
ERNE — SEA EAGLE. 
Although the White-tailed Eagle is gradually heconiiiig less 
luimerous in most parts of Scotland, there seems to have been 
no diminution in its numbers in Shetland within the last sixteen 
or eighteen years, notwithstanding the great extension of sheej) 
farming. It is to be feared that this happy state of the matter 
will not continue long, as the use of poison is becoming only 
too common for the birds’ destruction. 
This species is scarcely so shy as the Golden Eagle. It can- 
not be considered more courageous, for I have seen it driven 
away from a village by a single Arctic Skua; but probably its 
greater familiarity with the haunts of man renders it more con- 
fident. At the breeding season, however, necessity compels it 
to become less shy, and even daring. In the year 1868 a pair 
which had newly hatched were a great annoyance to the neigh- 
bourhood of Balta Sound, although the nest was about eight 
miles distant in a straight line. So bold did they become at 
last, that they would carry off poultry from the cottage doors 
when the men were at the fishing, treating the women and 
children with the utmost contempt. Some years ago, one of 
the same pair made a pounce upon a tame duck which was 
feeding in a barnyard, but, being alarmed by a man wlio came 
out to the rescue, merely succeeded in seizing one foot, by 
which, however, the miserable captive was carried to the dis- 
tance of about a mile, roaring for mercy,” as my informant 
asserted. The eagle then descended to a hillock, and there 
taking a firmer hold, rose once more and continued on its way 
to the eyrie. 
The remains of a nest still existed in the high cliffs at 
Lund in the island of Unst, where I had the melancholy 
pleasure of seeing them some years ago; but as the bird no 
longer breeds, in that island, I have seldom met with it except 
