10 FALCONID.E. 



North America far to the eastward of the Rocky Mountains. 

 Mr. Audubon saw one on the coast of Labrador, besides 

 others in various parts of the United States of America. 



The Golden Eagle inhabits Iceland, Scandinavia, Russia, 

 and Germany. In France, according to M. Temminck, it 

 is not uncommon in the forests of Fontainebleau, and it 

 breeds in the Alps and Pyrenees, A range still farther to 

 the southward is attributed to this bird : it is said to exist 

 in North Africa and Asia Minor. 



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, very seldom feeding 

 on fish or carrion, and rarely on anything which it finds 

 dead. Montagu relates, that " when sporting in the neigh- 

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

 mountains that form its base, a Red Grouse was Avounded, 

 and flew Avith difficulty eighty or a hundred paces. An 

 Eagle, apparently of this species, perceiving the laborious 

 flight of the Grouse, descended with rapid wing from the 

 adjacent lofty cliffs before our guns were reloaded, and, in 

 defiance of the shouts made to deter him, carried oflf his 

 prey.'"' In another part of the Western Highlands of Scotland, 

 Montagu " had an opportunity of witnessing the powers of 

 the flight of this bird in pursuit of its quarry. An old 

 Black Cock was sprung, and was instantly pursued by the 

 Eagle (which must have been on a neighbouring rock un- 

 perceived) across the glen, the breadth of which was at least 

 two miles. The Eagle made several pounces in view, with- 

 out success ; but as there Avas no Avood nor cover on the 

 opposite mountain suflRcient to conceal so large a bird as a 

 Black Grouse, he doubtless forfeited his life to the merciless 

 tyrant of the rocks." 



