GOLDEN EAGLE. 101 



in the northern regions, and in the mountainous dis- 

 tricts of the middle and southern countries. Accordini^ 

 to Prince Charles Bonaparte, and Mr Drummond, it is 

 found among the rocky mountains of North America ; 

 and Mr Audubon has figured and described a fine male, 

 of which I have seen the skin with him, and which was 

 caught in a trap on the White Mountains of New 

 Hampshire. 



Propagation. — The Golden Eagle prepares its nest 

 about the same time as our other species, that is to- 

 wards the beginning of March, and chooses for this 

 purpose a similar locality. Although it is often seen 

 on the maritime cliffs of the Hebrides, yet the species 

 has a greater predilection for inland precipices than its 

 more aquatic friend. The central ranges of the Gram- 

 pians, and the rocky mountains of the western and 

 northern parts of the middle division of Scotland, as 

 well as the Hebrides and Orkney and Shetland Islands, 

 afford many suitable places. The uest, in so far as I 

 know, from having seen only one at some distance, and 

 from the description of shepherds and a relative who 

 has several times been in eagles' nests, is similar to that 

 of the White-tailed Sea-Eagle. The eggs are gene- 

 rally two, sometimes one ; yellowish-white, with irre- 

 gular pale purplish dots. The young are fledged about 

 the end of July, and soon after coming abroad are left 

 to shift for themselves, or rather driven off from the 

 haunts of their parents. 



" High from the summit of a craggy cliff, 

 Hung o'er the deep, such as amazing frowns 

 On utmost Hilda's shore, whose lonely race 



