THE GOLDEN EAGLE 135 



The Golden Eagle cannot readily be confused 

 with any other British bird except the White- 

 tailed Eagle, whilst from this species it is readily 

 distinguished by its feathered tarsi. The general 

 colour of the plumage is dark brown, often with 

 a purplish sheen, except the nape, which is pale 

 brown, and the tail, which exhibits grey mottling. 

 The female resembles the male in colour. Young 

 birds are specially characterised by having the 

 basal half of the tail white ; and the feathers of 

 the body, especially on the lower parts, have white 

 bases. The total length of an adult Golden Eagle 

 is about thirty-four inches. 



