132 LOST AND VANISHING BIRDS 



It is generally distributed throughout Europe, 

 Asia, North Africa, and North America. We find 

 it dispersed in Europe from Lapland to Spain, and 

 across Asia to Kamtschatka and Japan, southwards 

 to the Himalayas ; whilst in the New World it is 

 found from the Arctic regions to the States, although 

 absent from Greenland. 



The Golden Eagle is a sedentary species in the 

 British Islands, although one that wanders about 

 a good deal during the non-breeding season. Its 

 favourite haunts are mountains and glens and the 

 secluded fastnesses of deer forests. It may be 

 frequently met with in marine districts as well as 

 inland ones. The most striking feature in this 

 bird is its magnificent motions in the air. Its 

 flight, so powerful and so long-sustained, ever calls 

 forth our warmest admiration ; and to watch the 

 big broad- winged bird soaring in majestic curves 

 high up in the blue sky is a sight that impresses 

 itself on the memory for ever. Time after time in 

 the Highlands has it been our good fortune thus 

 to watch the Golden Eagle on the wing, sailing and 

 soaring among the mountain tops, and occasionally 

 swooping earthwards with erected wings in all the 

 majesty of freedom. Except in the air, this Eagle 

 is a somewhat sluggish bird, fond of sitting motion- 



