SEA-EAGLES. 
209 
by the aid of a rope lowered from above. Many anecdotes record the boldness of 
the Irish peasants in thus attacking the strongholds of both golden and sea-eagles. 
The food of the white-tailed sea-eagle, like that of its allies, consists chiefly of 
fish and water-fowl; although these birds will at times not disdain a meal of carrion, 
while they probably carry off' an occasional lamb or kid. It is related that an 
instance has occurred of a sea-eagle, when attempting to carry off a large salmon, 
into which it had firmly fixed its talons, being partially dragged under water by 
its prey; both bird and fish being ultimately secured by a peasant who had witnessed 
the scene. In India, Pallas’s sea-eagle, according to Mr. Hume, always builds in 
trees, its nest being very similar to that of the last species, and the eggs laid from 
November to January. The nest may be occupied for several years, but the con¬ 
struction of a new one demands immense labour on the part of the birds. “ I once,” 
writes Mr. Hume, “watched a young pair constantly occupied for a full month, build¬ 
ing a new nest, which they were still at work finishing off when I left. Nothing 
can seem rougher or more rugged than their nest when finished, and yet out of 
every four sticks and branches that they brought, they rejected and threw down at 
least three. Both birds brought materials, and side by side the pair would work 
away, throwing down almost as many sticks as they brought; then apparently they 
would quarrel over the matter; there would be a great squealing, and one would fly 
away and sit sulky on some cliff-point near at hand; after a time the one left on 
the nest would go off in quest of materials. Immediately the other would drop 
softly on to the nest and be very busy till the absent bird returned, not unfre- 
quently with a fish instead of a stick. It is a curious fact, that if the female, 
which is much the larger, brought the fish to the nest, the male set to work on it 
at once, without so much as ‘ by your leave ’; while if the male brought it, the 
female used to eye it, sidle gradually up, and only take slow and modest mouthfuls. 
When, however, the female begins to sit, the male will bring her fish or fowl, and 
go off for other food for himself, not attempting to share it w r ith her; and, when 
not on the nest, neither seems to presume with the other’s capture without per¬ 
mission.” The eggs, like those of the other species, are uniformly coloured, being 
in this case of a pale greyish white ; their usual number is three. Like the white¬ 
tailed sea-eagle, this species will often lay again when its nest is robbed; but, 
according to Captain Bendire, this is never the case with the American white-headed 
species. All are agreed that so long as there are merely eggs in the nest Pallas’s 
sea-eagle never makes any attempt at defending its home; and, according to the 
extensive experience of Mr. Hume, the same is the case after the young are hatched. 
Hutton relates, however, that a native whom he had sent up a tree to deposit a 
nest, was once fiercely attacked, at first by the female, and then by both birds in 
concert; and that it was necessary to disable the eagles by shooting, in order to 
prevent the man being hurled from the tree. 
Continuing his account of its habits, Mr. Hume states that Pallas’s sea-eagle is 
never found far away from rivers, lakes, or swamps. “ Early in the morning, even 
in the cold weather, it goes down to the water-side, and has a good bathe. It is 
amusing to watch this large bird standing up to its belly in water, sitting down, 
first on one side, then on the other, so as to wash the wings and back, ducking the 
head in and out, and splashing, spluttering, and fluttering the wings for all the 
VOL. iv.—14 
