GOLDEN EAGLE. 15 



throughout Tartary and Siberia (excepting its northern 

 parts) to Dauuria ; its southern limit so far to the east 

 being the Himahiyas, where, according to Mr. Jerdon, it 

 is found but rarely, and not elsewhere in India. In 

 Palestine it is very common in winter, and occasionally at 

 the same season occurs in Arabia and Egypt, penetrating 

 even to Abyssinia. In Algeria it breeds as far south as 

 the Atlas, while in winter it frequents the Dayats of the 

 Desert. 



North America is inhabited by an Eagle which, though 

 regarded by many naturalists as a distinct species, and 

 named Aquila canadensis, is, in the opinion of Mr. John 

 Henry Gurney (than whom on this subject there can be no 

 better authority), not distinguishable by any constant cha- 

 racter from the A. chrysaetiis of the Old World. Of this 

 bird Wilson, in his 'American Ornithology,' states that 

 it is found from the temperate to the arctic regions, par- 

 ticularly in the latter, breeding on high precipitous rocks, 

 always preferring a mountainous country. Sir John Richard- 

 son considers that it is seldom seen in North America far to 

 the eastward of the Rocky Mountains. 



In the whole extent of its range there seems to be but 

 little difference in its habits. In some countries it is less 

 of a rock-haunting bird than in the British Islands. Thus 

 in Lapland its nest, according to Mr. Wolley's experience, 

 is always placed in a somewhat large tree. In the Atlas, a 

 cliff is rather the commoner position, though an arboreal site 

 is frequently chosen. 



The flight of the Golden Eagle is described by those who 

 have witnessed it as majestic and powerful in the extreme ; 

 and from the great strength of the bird, it preys with ease 

 on fawns, lambs, hares, and other game. It feeds much, 

 however, on carrion, and this habit gives great facility for its 

 destruction. Montagu relates, that " when sporting in the 

 neighbourhood of Ben-Lomond, on the summit of the lesser 

 mountains that form its base, a Grouse was wounded, and 

 flew with difficulty eighty or an hundred paces. An Eagle, 

 apparently of this species, perceiving the laborious flight of 



