THE GOLDEN EAGLE. 515 



that the buzzards were lotli to forsake their ancient citadel. L'pon the plat- 

 form of accumulated sticks and rubbish, some three feet in diameter, was 

 placed a copious covering of fresh fir twigs. Slightly imbedded in these and 

 in the few chance feathers, lay two pale blue eggs, unmarked. The matter 

 of landing the trophies was safely accomplished, in spite of choking pressure 

 on the short ribs, and tlie eggs were found to be somewhat incubated, thus 

 assuring a "full," if not c|uite representative set. 



No. 209. 



GOLDEN EAGLE. 



A. O. IJ. No. 349. Aquila chrysaetos iLinn.). 



Description. — Adults: General plumage rich dark brown, sometimes paling 

 on wing-coverts, etc. : the lanceolate feathers of occiput and cervix buffy-tipped 

 and tawny-edged (scarcely "golden," but the name arises here); wing-quills 

 and tail blackish, the latter clouded or obscurely barred for the basal two-thirds 

 with grayish brown and whitish; tarsi, fully feathered to the toes, paler or 

 whitish. The birds become somewhat gray with age. Iiiiinatiirc: Like adult, 

 but basal two-thirds of tail plain white contrasting with terminal black : tarsi still 

 paler or white. Adult male length 30.00-36.00 (762-914.4): wing about 24.00 

 (609.6); tail about 14.50 (368.3); bill i.f'o f40.fi); tarsus 3.75 (95.3). Adult 

 female length 35.00-40.00 (889-1016); wing about 26.00 (660.4); tail 15.50 

 (393.7); bill 1.80 (45.7); tarsus 4.18 ( 106.2). Extent of wing from six and 

 one-half to seven and one-half feet. 



Recognition Marks. — Largest; not easily distinguished at distance from 

 immature Bald Eagle; feathered tarsi, of course, distinctive. 



Nesting. — Xcst: a bulkv platform of sticks, on cliffs, or, more rarely, in 

 trees. Eggs: 2 or 3. dull whitish, usually speckled, spotted, blotched or stained 

 distinctly and faintly with reddish brown. Av. size, 2.96x2.32 (75.2x58.9). 

 Season: March- April ; one bnjixl. 



General Range. — North America south to Mexico, and northern parts of 

 the Eastern Hemisphere. Breeding range in the United States practically re- 

 stricted to the mountainous parts of imsettled regions. 



Range in Washington. — Not common resident, chiefly in the Cascade !Moun- 

 tains. 



Authorities. — [Lewis and Clark. Hist. Ex. (1814) Ed. Biddle : Coues, Vol. 

 n. p. 188.] Lawrence, Auk, A'ol. IX. Jan. 1892, p. 43. T. L'. D-. Ra. B. E. 



Specimens. — P". Prov. C. BN. 



BECAL'SE of the racial weakness for symbols and striking gener- 

 alizations, we have been taught that the Golden Eagle is the embodiment 

 of all regal qualities, including courage, magnanimity, and ^alor in defense 



