Mr. R. B. Sharpens Catalogue 0/ Accipitres. 211 



ing phases of coloration which are incident to the Golden 

 Eagle, and which perhaps are, in some cases, indicative 

 (though this is by no means certain) of distinguishable geo- 

 graphical races. I am disposed to think that this is the 

 wisest course, as the data which we at present possess in 

 regard to these races do not seem sufficient to justify us in 

 erecting them into separate subspecies. 



Golden Eagles vary considerably, not only in tone of colour, 

 but also in size ; and Mr. Sharpe, in a footnote to p. 237 of 

 his work, refers especially to the large size of North- American 

 and of Himalayan specimens; but my own impression is, 

 that these variations in size are almost as often indicative of 

 individual as of geographical peculiarities ; and the following 

 measurements of the wing from the carpal-joint, and of the 

 tarsus, in examples from various localities, tend, I think, 

 somewhat to confirm this view : — 



Ascertained or Presumed Males. 



Wing. Tarsus. 



Largest of five North-American, measured 



by Mr. Eidgway* 24-5 3-8 



Smallest of ditto 23-0 3-65 



From Texas, in the Norwich Museum .... 22 '3 3"5 

 From Scotland, measured by Macgillivrayt 24*0 4*0 

 From south of France, in Norwich Mu- 

 seum t 24-6 3-7 



From Spain, in the Norwich Museum .... 24-7 3-8 

 From Spain, in the collection of Mr. J. H. 



Gurney, Jun 24-1 3-5 



From Algeria, in Norwich Museum 22-6 S-Q 



Ascertained or Presumed Females. 

 Largest of seven North -American, measured 



by Mr. Ridgway* 27-0 4-2 



Smallest of ditto 25-0 4-15 



From North America, measured by Mr. 



Sharpe§ 26-25 4-1 



* Vide ' North- American Land-Birds,' by Baird, Brewer and Ridgway, 

 vol. iii. p. 315. 



t Vide Maegillivray's ' British Birds,' vol. iii. p. 207. 

 X A specimen of the so-called Aquila barthelemyi. 

 § Vide Sharpe's Catalogue, p. 237, footnote. 



