50 



THE GOLDEN EAGLE. 



THE GOLDEN EAGLE. 



The Golden Eagle is a large bird, weighing twelve or fourteen 



pounds ; measuring in 



length three feet, and 



from tip to tip of hia 



wings seven feet and 



a half The bill ia 



deep blue, and the 



|!tS^B cere yellow. The 



SAvftMBS iiead and neck are of 



nMM^ ^ dark brown, bor- 



JtW^^^mmB dered with tawny: 



the hind part o f 



the head is of a 



B^g= bright rust-color, 



'""-^ta^^m^l^^^^msiSS^^mSS^'' "?^ and the rest of the 



1 b o d y brown. The 

 msij&mssMi^i^a^^i^^^ssiSEHim-'mtsdl is blotched with 



Viff/r/fMf^'Mi!fM'j^^^ m *u M =^ ash-color. The legs 



^^^^^^^^I^^^^^^^^WPffi ^^B : are yellow, and 



w^^'^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^^ feathered to the toes, 



f^SSS^^^^^^^^^^^^^lW which are scaly : the 



^ii^lS^re^r'^j^vr^^ '•^^F^Srail^ claws are remarka- 



__^ bly large, the middle 

 f^?^.'T,":--r^:r-;^-''0^p ^^^ ^S OD^ being two inches 

 S-^^lflPv^lKiisi^!^^ in length. 



This bird is a 

 oese:==^ native of Europe, 

 and even of some of 

 ^i;{^ ==:= - the more mountain- 



aoLDEN EAOLE. ous parts of Great 



Britain. 

 This Eagle has generally been considered by mankind, ^o hold the 

 same fabulous or imaginary dominion over the birds, which has been 

 attributed to the Lion over quadrupeds. M. de Buffon, adoj^ing the 

 idea, is also of opinion, that the Eagle and the Lion have many points 

 of resemblance, both physical and moral. " Magnanimity (he says) ia 

 e'lnally conspicuous in both; they despise the small animals, and dis- 

 regard their insults. It is only after a series of provocations, alter 

 being teased with the noisy or harsh notes of the Eaven or Magpie, 

 t.hat the Eagle determines to punish the temerity or the insolence of 

 these birds with death. Besides, both disdain the possession of that 

 property which is not the fruit of their own industry; rejecting with 

 contempt the prey which is not procured by their own exertions. 

 Both are remarkable for their temperance. This species seldom de- 

 rours the whole of his game, but, like the Lion, leaves the fragments 



