BIRDS OF PREY. 



The Golden Eagle {Aquila chrysaiiios*) is amongst the largest of Euro- 

 pean birds : the female, which throughout the Falcon family is larger than the 

 male, often measures three feet and a half in length, and upwards of eight 

 feet across when the wings are extended. Bewick mentions a very large spe- 

 cimen killed at Warkworth, in Northumberland, which measured eleven feet 

 in its extent of wing. Its prey consists of large quadrupeds, and birds, fawns, 

 lambs, black and red grouse ; and it is only under the extremity of hunger 

 that it will feed upon carrion or attack a dead carcase. The stoop of the 

 eagle is one of the grandest displays of force in the whole range of animated 

 nature, and is generally at once fatal from the violence of the shock : should 

 it, however, fail in destroying life, the clutch instantly follows ; in giving which 

 the whole strength of the bird, in the utmost excitement, with the head eleva- 

 ted, the neck stiff, the feathers of the head and neck erected, and the wings 

 shivering, so as to keep up the pressure on the instruments of death, is con- 

 centrated on the talons, with which alone these birds kill their victims. In 

 general the prey is borne off, but in some cases it is devoured upon the spot. 



The ordinary habits of the eagle are thus graphically described by Mr. 

 Macgillivray : " There he stands, nearly erect, with his tail depressed, his 

 large wings half raised from his sides, his neck stretched out, and his eye 

 glistening as he glances around. Like other robbers of the desert, he has a 

 noble aspect, an imperative mien, a look of proud defiance ; but his nobility 

 has a dash of clownishness, and his falconship a vulturine tinge. Still he is a 

 noble bird, powerful, independent, but ferocious, regardless of the weal or woe 

 of others, and intent solely on the gratification of his own appetites ; without 

 generosity, without honour, bold against the defenceless, but ever ready to 

 sneak from danger. Such is his nobility, about which men have so raved. 

 Suddenly he raises his wings, for he has heard the whistle of the shepherd in 

 the corry, and, bending forward, he springs into the air. Hardly do those 

 vigorous flappings serve at first to prevent his descent ; but now, curving 

 upwards, he glides majestically along. As he passes the corner of that but- 

 tressed and battlemented crag, forth rush two ravens from their nest, croaking 

 fiercely. While one flies above him, the other steals beneath, and they essay 

 to strike him, but dare not, for they have an instinctive knowledge of the 

 power of his grasp, and after following him a little way they return to their 

 home, exulting in the thought that they have driven him from their neigh- 

 bourhood. Bent on a far journey, he advances forwards in a direct course, 

 flapping his great wings at regular intervals, then shooting along without ap- 

 pearing to move them. In ten minutes he has advanced three miles, although 

 he is in no haste. Over the moors he sweeps, at the height of two or three 

 hundred feet, bending his course to either side, his wings wide spread, his 

 neck and feet retracted, now beating the air, and again sailing smoothly. Sud- 

 denly he stops, poises himself for a moment, stoops, but recovers himself before 

 reaching the ground. The object of his regards, a golden plover, has eluded 

 him, and he cares not to pursue it. Now he ascends a little, wheels in short 

 curves, presently rushes down headlong, assumes the horizontal position when 

 close to the ground, and prevents himself from being dashed against it by ex- 

 panding his wings and tail ; he now thrusts forth his talons, and grasping a 

 poor terrified ptarmigan that sat cowering among the grey lichens, squeezes 

 it to death. He raises his head exultingly, emits a shrill cry, and springing 

 from the ground, pursues his journey. In passing a tall cliff that overhangs 



* Xpvcos, chrj'sos, gold ; derJs, aetos, ajt eni^h' : golden eagle. 



