100 AQUILA CHRYSAETUS. 



Neither tliis, nor the other eag'le described, ever 

 hovers in the manner of a hawk, remaining stationary 

 in a spot, while looking for prey. On account of the 

 weight of its body, and the great size of its wings, 

 which it is unable to wield with sufficient quickness, it 

 is obliged, in searching a portion of ground, to fly in 

 short circlings, which it does by means of alternate 

 flappings and sailings, the wings seeming as if slightly 

 curved upwards during the latter. When proceeding 

 to a distant hill or island, it flies with a regular direct 

 motion, sailing occasionally, but more frequently moving 

 by measured flappings ; and its flight appears to me to 

 be more rapid when performed in the latter than in the 

 former manner, unless when it is descending obliquely. 

 The cries of the Golden Eagle are similar to those 

 of the other, and are chiefly heard at the commence- 

 ment of the breeding season. Temminck says that 

 its cry is a hoarse and weak sound — " son cri est un 

 son rauque et faible ;'' but this probably is rather an 

 inference from his statement as to the anatomy of its 

 trachea, than a fact obtained by observation. For my 

 own part, I am assured, by the evidence of my ears, 

 that its cry is shrill, loud, and clear, and its yelping or 

 barking notes as loud as those of the White-tailed Sea- 

 Eagle. 



Tliis species appears to be much less numerous than 

 the other, but its distribution is similar. In the He- 

 brides it is as well known as the Sea- Eagle, and re- 

 sorts to the same places to rest ; but in the interior of 

 the northern and middle divisions of Scotland, it is more 

 frequent than that species. The Golden Eagle is said to 

 occur in most parts of Europe, but to be more abundant 



