AQUILA CHRYSAETUS 107 



the species as abundant in Algeria. In Marocco it also occurs, though 

 perhaps less abundantly than it does further east. 



In North Tunisia the species may be met with on most mountain 

 ranges, even within a short distance of a town or village. I recollect 

 on one occasion, when returning to Tunis from an excursion to the 

 ruins of Oudena, near that town, shooting a fine Golden Eagle as it 

 flew from the remains of a dead fox, upon which it had been feeding in 

 the middle of the road. The fox must have been dead for some time 

 judging from its unsavoury odour. On another occasion, at the end 

 of a fruitless stalk after Barbary Mountain Sheep (0. tragelaphus) on 

 the Djebel Selloum in Central Tunisia, I suddenly came upon a 

 Golden Eagle which darted out from under the ledge of a cliff within 

 a few feet of me. Although loaded with ball, I could not resist the 

 temptation of a shot, as the bird was so close to me, but I only 

 succeeded in hitting it far back, and knocking out a handful of 

 feathers from its tail. The poor bird flew ofl" at first in a somewhat 

 erratic way, being minus a considerable portion of its steering gear ; 

 but recovering itself, finally succeeded in making good its escape. 



The furthest point south where I have observed the Golden Eagle 

 in Tunisia has been between Oglet-Alima and Tamerza, where I once 

 killed one of these birds, as it flew over my head. 



Baron v. Erlanger, however, mentions having met with the species 

 in the month of January, as far south as the Djebel Dekanis. This 

 lies in about the same degree of latitude as the districts in the 

 Algerian Sahara, where Canon Tristram found the species so abun- 

 dant, and nesting in company. It is a curious fact that a bird like 

 the Golden Eagle, usually so absolute and despotic in its habits, and 

 so jealous of its breeding-haunts, should here consort sociably with 

 others of its kind. The reason is perhaps, as suggested by Canon 

 Tristram, the impossibility of finding other nesting places in the 

 vicinity, but the fact is none the less remarkable, and forms a good 

 illustration of the effect peculiar conditions of environment may have 

 in modifying the habits of birds. 



In its nature and disposition the Golden Eagle is bold and coura- 

 geous as a rule, though at times it has been known to allow a smaller 

 and weaker bird to drive it away. It preys on lambs, kids, hares and 

 birds, and in South Tunisia, on young gazelles to a considerable 

 extent. It will, however, often feed on carrion, as I have myself had 

 an opportunity of verifying. Its flight is powerful and graceful, and 



