EAGLE 177 
water is not requisite. The eggs, from two to four in number, 
vary from a pure white to a mottled, and often highly-coloured, 
surface, on which appear different shades of red and purple. The 
adult bird is of a rich, dark brown, with the elongated feathers of 
the neck, especially on the nape, light tawny, in which imagination 
sees a “golden” hue, and the tail marbled with brown and ashy- 
grey. In the young the tail is white at the base, whence in this 
stage it has been often called the Ring-tailed Eagle, and the neck 
has scarcely any tawny tint. The Golden Eagle does not occur in 
Iceland, but occupies suitable situations over the rest of the 
Palearctic area and a considerable portion of the Nearctic—though 
the American bird has been, by some, considered a distinct species. 
Domesticated, it has many times been trained to take prey for 
its master in Europe, and to this species is thought to belong an 
Eagle habitually used by the Kirgiz Tartars, who call it Bergut or 
Bearcoot, for the capture of antelopes, foxes, and wolves. It is 
carried hooded on horseback or on a perch between two men, and 
released when the quarry is in sight. Such a bird, when well 
trained, is valued, says Pallas, at the price of two camels. It is 
quite possible, however, that more than one kind of Eagle is thus 
used, and the services of 4. heliaca (which is the Imperial Eagle of 
some writers?) and of A. mogilnik—both of which are found in 
Central Asia, as well as in South-eastern EKurope—may also be 
employed. 
Of the other more or less nearly allied species or races want of 
room forbids the consideration, but there is a smaller form on 
which a few words may be said. ‘This has usually gone under the 
name of 4. nxvia or Spotted Eagle, but is now thought by the best 
authorities to include three local races, or, in the eyes of some, 
species. They inhabit Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia to 
India, and five examples of one of them—J. clanga, the form which 
is somewhat plentiful in North-eastern Germany—have occurred in 
England. The smallest true Eagle is .4. pennata, which inhabits 
Southern Europe, Africa, and India. Differing from other Eagles 
of this genus by its wedge-shaped tail, though otherwise greatly 
resembling them, is the 4. audax of Australia. Lastly may be 
niche in what passes for a perpendicular cliff to which access could only be 
gained by a skilful cragsman with a rope, the writer has known a nest to within 
ten or fifteen yards of which he rode ona pony. ‘Two beautiful views of as many 
Golden Eagles’ nests, drawn on the spot by Mr. Wolf, are given in the Ootheca 
Wolleyana, and a fine series of eggs is also figured in the same work. 
1 The similarity between this name and the Welsh Barcud, said by Pennant 
(Lrit. Zool. Ed. 4, ii. pp. 620, 621) to be Kite or Harrier, but, as Lord Lilford 
informs me, really equivalent to Buzzard, is worth noting. 
2 Which species may have been the traditional emblem of Roman power, and 
the Ales Jovis, is very uncertain. 
I2 
