THE SEA-EAGLES. 
1(^5 
dinavia, Germany, and Russia, as well as in the valley of the 
Danube. Eastwards it extends across Asia to Kamtchatka, 
and in winter the species is found to the southward in China 
and Japan, and even visits India. 
In North America its place is taken by the Bald Eagle 
{Haliactus leucocephahis), but the European species extends to 
Greenland, where it is resident. 
Habits. — By many writers this species is spoken of as the 
Sea-Eagle, and in most of its range it appears to frequent the 
sea-coast, but it is also found on inland waters and lakes, and 
is probably nowhere more plentiful in Europe than in the valley 
of the Danube. The food of the White-tailed Eagle consists 
of the smaller game, such as hares, young deer, and ducks, 
and it also feeds largely on carrion. It will likewise catch 
fish, and in Pomerania Mr. Seebohm says that it often makes 
considerable havoc in the carp-ponds. Its nature is said to be 
somewhat cowardly, and one of these Eagles will allow itself to 
be driven off by a Peregrine or a pair of Ravens. 
Nest.— This is a huge structure of sticks, added to year by 
year, until it attains an immense size. It is often built on a 
rock in the middle of a lake in inland districts, but the site 
varies a good deal, and the nest is as often built in a tree, and 
on rarer occasions on the ground. In Egypt the nest has 
been found among reed-beds, and similar instances have been 
recorded from Europe. It is, however, often placed on the 
ledges of cliffs, and is composed entirely of sticks and a little 
heather, with some coarse grass as lining. 
Eggs Two in number ; white or whity-brown, when they 
have become nest-stained. The brownish markings which are 
sometimes seen on them are apparently always the result of 
such staining. The eggs are somewhat smaller than those 
of the Golden Eagle, and are rounder in form, and coarser in 
texture. Axis, 2‘7-3'i5; diam., 2'2-2'5. 
We now pass on to the Kites, whose connection with the 
Eagles is maintained by such forms as the Brahminy-Kites(j5'fl//- 
asiur) of India and Australi.a, which approach the Sea-Eagles in 
form, but have the manners of a Kite. In Africa, and again in 
North America, occur the Swallow-tailed Kites, of which Rio- 
