File:The royal natural history (1893) (14781696471).jpg

Identifier: royalnaturalhist47lyde (find matches)
Title: The royal natural history
Year: 1893 (1890s)
Authors: Lydekker, Richard, 1849-1915 Sclater, Philip Lutley, 1829-1913 Frostick, W. B., former owner. DSI Brooks, W. T., former owner. DSI
Subjects: Zoology Natural history
Publisher: London and New York : Frederick Warne & Co.
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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Hume states that Pallass sea-eagle isnever found far away from rivers, lakes, or swamps. Early in the morning, evenin the cold weather, it goes down to the water-side, and has a good bathe. It isamusing 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 wasli tlie wings and l)ack, ducking thehead in and out, and splashing, spluttering, and fluttering the wings for all the VOL. IV.—14 210 DIURNAL BIRDS OF FREY. world like a pigeon or sparrow. After its bath, it resorts to the top of some tree,or, alono- the banks of large rivers, to some craggy point, where it sits for a whilesunning itself, generally with its wings half outspread. Thence it flies off heavilyto seek a meal. A large flsh near the surface attracts its attention, as it flies prettylow over the river, down it swoops with more activity and rapidity than its habitualdemeanour and method of flight would lead one to expect, and strikes for a break- -4t „
Text Appearing After Image:
^^^-^*-- AFRICAN SEA-EAGLE (i liat. Size). fast, dashing its huge feet and long legs into the water right up to the body.This action shows how adapted is the conformation of the bird to its mode oflife, as heavily feathered legs like those of the true eagles would become heavyand bedraggled with water. The food of those birds is, however, by no meansconfined to fish; and they may frequently be seen on the larger Indian rivershawking for ducks, teal, and paddy-birds, while Mr. Hume states that they willpursue and carry of such a large animal as a w^ounded wild goose, of which theweight may be as much as seven pounds. Hutton, too, writes that he has often BATELEUR EAGLE. 211 watched one of these birds sitting on some dead tree on the river bank itself,suddenly utter its shrill, clamorous, half croak-like, half scream-like cry, spreadout its wings, and sweep across the water in search of winged game on the plains.Rising at first in wide circles, until nearly lost to view, it would gradua

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