BIRDS OF KANSAS. 273 



Aquila chrysaetos (Linn.). 



GOLDEN EAGLE. 

 PLATE XVII. 



Kesident; rare. I am informed by Dr. G. K. Rumsey that 

 a pair nested for several years in the southeastern part of Coman- 

 che county, on a high gypsum ledge; and, as a proof that he was 

 not mistaken, he says that the legs of a young bird captured were 

 feathered to the toes. The late rapid settlement of the county 

 has put a stop to their breeding there. Begin laying about the 

 middle of March. 



B. 39. H. 449. C. 532. G. 211, 128. U. 349. 



Habitat. jS^orthern portion of northern hemisphere; south to 

 Mexico. 



Sp. Char. ^^ Adult: General plumage fuliginous black, this deepest on the 

 head, throat, lower surface in general, under surface of the wings, back, scapu- 

 lars, shoulders, secondaries, primaries and rump; middle and secondary wing 

 coverts, upper and lower tail coverts, tarsi and inside of tibiae considerably 

 paler, inclining to light umber. Lanceolate feathers of occiput and nape with 

 the exposed portions light fulvous, the shafts black; dusky beneath the surface. 

 Tail black, somewhat paler on basal half, and with about three irregular, obso- 

 lete zigzag bands of pale brown (on two middle feathers ashy); no concealed 

 white on breast. Fifth quill longest; third and fourth intermediate between 

 fifth and sixth; second considerably shorter than sixth; first intermediate be- 

 tween eighth and ninth. Young: Continuous deep sepia black, with purplish 

 luster; breast and scapulars with large, concealed spots of pure white; lanceolate 

 feathers of the 'mane' dull brown, not conspicuously different from the throat; 

 under surface of the primaries showing much white basally, this most extended 

 on inner feathers. Upper and under tail coverts more brownish than the rump, 

 the basal portion white. Basal half or more of tail white (more ashy on outer 

 feathers), distinctly defined against the broad, pure black terminal zone; tarsi 

 dull white, clouded with dilute brownish; inside of tibiae with feathers tipped 

 with white." 



stretch of 



Length. whig. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. Cere. 



Male 32.50 80.00 23.00 12.75 4.00 1.62 .70 



Female... 35.50 86.00 25..50 14.00 4.10 1.75 .75 



Iris brown; bill and claws horn blue; cere and feet greenish 

 yellow. 



The natural home of this king of birds is witliin the mountain 

 regions; it is rarely met with in the eastern portion of the 

 United States, and is not abundant anywhere, but the most 

 common in the western portion of its range. In flight this 

 bird is not swift, but very powerful, sailing for hours without an 

 apparent effort, and often at a great height — a mere speck in 



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