? tA ‘ ivrAVniM 'T r / t ¿ v iY » - r j r r r ,:r ,* Y .
H AL ItETUS a l b i c i l l a .
G R A Y SEA-EAGLE.
AQUILA ALBICILLA. Briss. Ora.. Tom. 1, p. 427.
AQUILA OSSIFRAGA. Briss. Orn., Tom. 1, p. 437.
FALCO OSSIFRAGA. Linn. Syst. Nat., Tom. 1, p. 124.
FALCO MELANOTUS. Gmel Syst. Nat., Tom. 1, p. 253.
VULTUR ALBICILLA. Linn. Syst. Nat., Tom. 1, p. 123.
TT ALT /BTTTfi GR(ENLANDICUS. Brehm. Yog. Deutsch,. 1,-16 (1831,)..
EALLETUS ALBICILLA. Guv. Règne Ànììn., ed. 1, p. 315. ,
• ■ This- splendid bird is a -native of the- cold latitudes, and is fond of dwelling upon- the rock-bound coasts, where it builds its nests,
and rears its young oh -the -high, almost inaccessible cliffs overlooking the ,l soimding sea.” It is met w ith in Great Britain, Norway,
Sweden, Russia, Siberia, Iceland, and Greenland, doubtless visiting, from the' last-named couutry, the northern provinces of our own
country.
Ranking among the great Eagles of the world, exceeded in size and power by but few, it nevertheless does not seem to possess the
energy, courage, and stern independence which characterize some of even its smaller and more defenceless brethren. Its food consists
principally of fish, but it will also prey upon small quadrupeds and birds, these last being obtained by seizing them in its powerful talons
as it sweeps over their places of refuge; and as this great bird partakes somewhat of the Vulture in its habits and disposition, it will
not disdain to make a meal upon carrion-.' But this fact should not perhaps be used as a reproach for this Eagle alone, since its noble
relative, the Golden Eagle (Aquila Chrysaetos), will not hesitate to stoop to a similar banquet.
The nest is formed of sticks, dried seaweeds, grass, &c., and is of great size, sometimes five feet in diameter, and is usually placed
upou the most inaccessible cliffs, although it will also build in the top of some large tree. The female lays two white eggs, and the
young when first hatched are covered with a white down, giviug to them somewhat the appearance of two rolls of cotton as they lie
in the centre of the nest. They grow very rapidly, and are supplied with food by the parents, even for some time after they have left
the nest, from which the old birds entice them before they are able to use their wings to any advantage.
The following account of a visit paid to the eyrie of this bird is published in the “ Ootheca Wolleyana,” from the pen of Mr. John
"VVolley:
“ On the coasts the Sea-Eagle chooses a roomy and generally sheltered lodge of rock. The nest was very slightly made of a little
grass and fresh heather loosely put together without any sticks; but two or three “ kek"-stalks’were strewn about outside. There was
a good thickness of guano-like soil upon the rock, which made much nest unnecessary. Two or three Guillemot’s beaks, the only
unmanageable part of that bird, were not far off. The eggs were laid two days before, when I went to reconnoitre, and I never shall
forget the forbearance which a friend who was with me showed, at my request, as he lay gun in hand with the hen eagle in full view
upon her nest not forty yards below him. Her head was toward the cliff, and concealed from our sight, whilst her broad back and
white tail, as she stood bending over her nest on the grassy ledge, with the beautiftil sandstone rock and the sea beyond, completed a
picture rarely to bo forgotten.
“ But our oars and the air we breathe give a finish to nature’s pictures which no art can imitate; and here were the effects of the
sea, and the heather, aud the rocks, the fresh warmth o f the northern sun, and the excitoment of exercise, while the musical yelping
o f the malo ea<de came from some stand out o f our sight. Add to this the innate feeling of delight conuected with the pursuit of wild
animals, which no philosopher has yet been able to explain further than as a special gift o f our Great Maker, and then say whether
it is not almost blasphemy to caU such a scene a picture! Upon this occasion I made some remark to my friend, when the hen eagle
showed her clear eye and big yellow beak, her head full of the expression of wild nature and freedom. She gave us a steady glance,
then sprang upon the rock, aud with ‘ slow winnowing wing’—the flight feathers turning upwards at every stroke was soon out at sea.
Joined by her mate, sho began to sail with him in circles further and further away, till quite out of sight, yelping as long as we
could hear them, gulls mobbing them all the time. To enjoy the beauties of a wild coast in perfection, let me recommend any
man to seat himself iu an eagle’s nest.”
Although not at all sociable, yet the young frequently keep together, oven wheu able to take care of themselves, aud several
individuals may bo seen flying in company. It is a beautiful sight to witness this bird upon the wing, as it then appears to the
greatest advantage. Perhaps two or more will commence at the same time to mount into the upper air, and sailing in great circles
with the wings held nearly motionless—the only movement beiug the quivering at times of the flight feathers,—crossing each other
at regular intervals, they gradually ascend. Higher and higher they rise, until they seem to float without motion-their white tails
shining liko molten silver as the bright rays of the sun fall upon them;—and as wo gaze they grow less and less distinct, until
only a few dark specks in the distance indicate the mighty birds, even these soon vanishing from our view