96 



BIRDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



but, thanks to game-preservers, it is now but rarely met 

 •with there. The whole of the plumage is brown, except 

 the rather short, broad tail, which is pure white. The bill 

 is yellow, as are also the feet and legs, but the cere is 

 orange. Male and female are much alike, even as regards 

 size, which is about 3 feet in total length. 



Golden Eagle. — This fine bird is not unlike the last, 

 but its brown colour is tinged with a golden yellow in some 



lights, especially 

 on the upper 

 parts ; and the 

 tail is bluish, 

 barred, and 

 broadly tipped 

 with black. The 

 bill is grej'', but 

 the feet and cere 

 are yellow. The 

 shanks are 

 covered down to 

 the toes with 

 brown, hair- like 

 feathers. The 

 female closely 

 resembles the 

 male, except in 

 size. He meas- 

 ures nearly 3 

 feet in length, 

 and she nearly 

 G inches more. 



Sparrow Hawk. — This eminently useful bird has been 

 practically exterminated in Great Britain, much to the 

 comfort of the small birds and mammals on which it was 



Fig. 32. — The Golden Eagle. 



