Golden Eagle 285 



were destroyed, which, while it is a standing proof that 

 the bird is not of that extreme rarity which is sometimes 

 supposed, it, at the same time, tells us that whilst the war 

 of extermination goes on we shall look in vain for this 

 appropriate ornamentation of our northern landscape. 



The eyrie of this magnificent and lordly bird is usually- 

 placed on the face of some stupendous cliff situated some 

 what inland ; the nest is built on what might be termed a 

 projecting shelve, or on the stump of a tree that emanates 

 from the rock, generally in a situation perfectly inacces- 

 sible without artificial means, and often out of the reach of 

 shot, either from below or from the summit of the preci- 

 pice. It is composed usually of dead vegetable matter, 

 entangled strongly together, and in abundance, but 

 without any lining on the inside ; the eggs are two in 

 number of a white colour, with pale brown or purplish 

 blotches, most numerous and largest at the thicker end. 



During the season of incubation a fabulous quantity of 

 food is procured, so much so that it is almost incredible ; 

 it is composed of nearly all the inhabitants of the wild 

 districts called forests, but in many cases these tracts are 

 entirely treeless. Hares, lambs, young deer, roebuck, 

 grouse, black game, ptarmigan, curlews, plover, &c, &c. 

 Somewhat similar to the male eider, the plumage does 

 not reach its limit of grandeur till close upon the fourth 

 year in a wild bird, and in captivity it takes longer for it 

 to develop its distinctive markings. 



Its generic markings in adult birds are as follow : Deep 

 and rich umber brown, glossed with purple on the back 

 and wings ; on the hind part of the head and neck the 

 feathers are hackled and pale orange-brown, occasionally 

 edged with a somewhat paler tint, and when reflected by 

 the sun's rays they have a brilliant, almost golden appear- 

 ance, hence its sobriquet. Thighs and shoulders of the 

 same pale orange brown. Quills, blackish-brown ; inner 

 webs clouded with greyish-black. The secondaries are 

 clouded with brown, light brown, and umber brown. Tail 

 nearly square. 



