GOLDEN EAGLE. 317 



and to devour Grouse, though it is not proved that it struck 

 these down in flight. In Scandinavia it feeds largely on 

 lemmings, but is not particular about its meat being fresh, 

 and will devour carrion. 



The upper parts of the adult are dark brown ; the whitish 

 head and neck streaked with brown ; the feathers of the coverts 

 and scapulars have buff margins, showing as pale bars in flight. 

 The tail-coverts and basal half of the tail are white. The 

 under parts are white, barred with brown in the adult, but the 

 lower breast usually is unmarked. In the immature dress, the 

 bars on the under parts are replaced by streaks. Length : 

 Male, 23 ins. Female, 26 ins. Wing, i7"5-i8 5 ins. Tarsus, 

 2*8 ins. 



Golden Eagle. Aquila chrysmtus (Linn.). 



If we ignore sub-species, the range of the Golden Eagle 

 (Plate 132) is Holarctic. It is still resident in the Highlands 

 of Scotland, although some years ago it was threatened with 

 extinction, and it breeds in the Hebrides ; elsewhere in the 

 British Isles it has vanished as a resident, though many years 

 ago, in some cases one or two centuries, it nested in southern 

 Scotland, the Cheviots, Lake District, Wales, and even Derby- 

 shire. It survived until recent years in Ireland, but it is 

 doubtful if any pairs reaiain. From time to time Golden 

 Eagles are reported from various places, and when these 

 reports are correct the birds are usually in the immature 

 plumage shown on the plate ; they are young, v/andering in 

 search of a home or merely seeking their fortunes. 



The Golden Eagle in romance is fierce, terrible, and a robber 

 of infants ; in reality a large, powerful, magnificent bird with 

 a cowardly vulturine character. Noble in appearance, espe- 

 cially in its marvellous airmanship, it is ignoble in habits, steal- 

 ing young and sickly lambs, but not daring to try conclusions 



