FALCON1DJ-;. AQUILA CHRYSAETOS. 45 



A l U I L, 5 IV J3 . 



AQUILA CHRYSAETOS. 



Fako clirysaelos, LINN. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 125. 



AUD. Orn. Biog. II, 1835, 464, pi. clxxxi. 

 Falcofuleus, LINN. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 125. 

 " " WILS. Am. Orn. VI, 1815, 13. 

 " " BONAP. Syn. 1828, p. 25. 

 " " NUTTALL, Manual, I, 1832, 62. 

 FaJco canadensis, LINN. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 125. 

 Fako niger, GMELIN, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 259. 

 Aquila chrysaetos, RICH. & SWAINS. F. B. A. II, 1831, 6. 



BONAP. Geog. and Comp. List, 1838, p. 2. 

 " AUD. Synopsis, 1839, p. 3. 



" Birds of Am. I, 1840, 50, pi. xii. 



CASSIN, Syn. N. A. Birds (Illust. Birds of Cal.), 1854, p. 109. 

 Aquila nolilis, PALLAS, Zoog. Ross. As. I, 338. 



VULG. The Golden Eagle. Royal Eagle. Ring-tailed Eagle. Black Eagle. 



THE Golden Eagle of Europe and of North America have been regarded as iden- 

 tical in all works upon the ornithology of the two continents. Mr. Cassin of Phila- 

 delphia, whose accuracy in determining species, and whose critical eye in recogniz- 

 ing specific diversities, are so well known, has recently expressed doubts as to the 

 correctness of the supposed identity of these two birds. It is therefore a matter of 

 no small regret, that so little aid can be given towards solving these doubts from the 

 oology of the two continents. In both countries the Golden Eagle breeds in remote 

 and nearly inaccessible places, and but little is known of its eggs, especially in re- 

 gard to those of the American bird, of which I regret that I have only a drawing, 

 made by Dr. James Trudeau, from an egg taken near the Hudson River. It differs 

 essentially from any European specimen, or any descriptions that I have ever seen. 

 The variations in a single instance, however, should not be regarded as decisive of 

 specific distinctions, in a family the eggs of which are often known to present 

 great differences, even among those taken from the same nest. 



In its geographical distribution, the Golden Eagle of North America appears to 

 be chiefly confined to the mountainous regions, and the more northern portions, 

 but to be nowhere abundant. Sir John Richardson saw but few individuals in the 

 Arctic regions, nor does he appear ever to have met with its nest. Individual birds 

 on the Atlantic coast have been occasionally obtained, once as far south as Phila- 

 delphia, but very rarely. It was observed in Oregon by Dr. Townsend, but was 

 not met with in California, either by Dr. Heermann or Dr. Gambel; yet several 

 appear to have been obtained among the mountains of New Mexico by Dr. Henry's 

 party. 



A bird was secured alive near Boston, in 1837, by being taken in a trap, which had 

 been set for another purpose. It was purchased for Mr. Audubon, and its life destroyed, 



