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lateral parts of the neck, light brownish-yellow; the shafts and concealed 
parts of the feathers deep brown. The back is deep brown, glossy, with 
purplish reflections; the wing-coverts lighter. The primary quills brown- 
ish-black, the secondaries, with their coverts, brown, and those next the 
body more or less mottled with brownish-white, excepting at the ends; 
the edge of the wing at the flexure pale yellowish-brown. Tail dark 
brown, lighter toward the base, and with a few irregular whitish markings, 
like fragments of transverse bands; the coverts pale brown, mottled with 
white at the base, and paler at the ends. The short feathers of the legs 
and tarsi are light yellowish-brown, each with a dark shaft; the outer 
elongated feathers dark brown; the lower tail coverts light yellowish- 
brown. The base of the feathers on the upper parts of the body is white, 
on the lower, pale dusky-grey. 
Length, three feet two inches; extent of wings, seven feet; bill along 
the back two and three-quarter inches; edge of lower mandible, two and a 
half; tarsus four and a half; middle toe and claw, four and a half; hind 
claw two and three-quarters. The extremities of the wings are one inch 
short of that of the tail.”—Audubon. 
This is the only species of the true eagle that is known to inhabit the 
United States, and is considered identical with the European species that 
bears the same name, although Cassin, in his “Synopsis of the Birds of 
America,” expresses some doubt in regard to theiridentity. In comparing 
_ Audubon’s figure with some well executed figures of the European bird, 
we cannot see any difference in the markings, but it is necessary to com 
pare well preserved skins, from animals of equal age, before a definite 
opinion can be given. The habits of this bird in both hemispheres are 
alike. It generally prefers inaccessible rocks on which to build its eyrie, 
and hunts and feeds on the same kinds of animals. It prefers dead to liv- 
ing prey, and frequents the shores of seas and lakes for the dead animals 
thrown up by the waves, and will even feed on carrion. We are not 
aware that this eagle breeds in Ohio, as our State has no wild mountain- 
ous districts in which it can build its nest, but it has been found breeding 
in the highlands of the Hudson, and among the rocks and hills of the Up- 
per Lakes, and may be found sparingly on all our mountain chains, 
In 1810, when Dr. Kirtland first came to this State, eagles were plenti- 
ful, and were often seen flying along the lakeshore. Among these, golden 
eagles were occasionally to be seen, but as all the large predacious birds 
