AQUILA CHRYS-ETOS— GOLDEN EAGLE. 207 



II, Family Falconid^ — Falcons^ Eagles^ Ilaivks, Kites. 



Head and neck usually covered with feathers ; supercil- 

 liary ridges prominent. Bill very strong, curved and sharp. 

 Tarsi and toes strong. Claws large, curved and very sharp. 

 Wings large and well adapted for rapid and vigorous flight. 

 Great difference in size, but all are organized to pursue, 

 capture and kill living animals. 



To this family belong the highest types of rapacious birds. 



1. Sub-Family Aquiline. — Eagles. 



Generally of large size. Tarsi of medium length, occa- 

 sionally rather long, and of great strength. Toes long and 

 strong. Claws curved, sharp and very strong. Bill large, 

 compressed; curved and sharp at point, straight at base. 



Genus Aquila, Mcehring. — Eacles. 



Large; bill large, strong, compressed and hooked at the 

 tip; wings long, pointed, very strong; tarsi moderate, feath- 

 ered to the base of the toes. Tail rather long, rounded and 

 wedge shaped. Toes and claws long, the latter very sharp 

 and curved. 



Aquila OHRYSiETOs, Liiioi. — Golden Eagle. 



" Adult Female. — Wings long, the fourth quill longest, 

 the third almost equal, the second considerably shorter, the 

 first short; the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth 

 abruptly cut out on the inner webs; the secondaries long, 

 broad and rounded. Tail rather long, ample, rounded, of 

 twelve broad, rounded and acuminate feathers. 



"Bill light bluish grey at the base, black at the tip; cere 

 and basal margins yellow. Eye brows and margins of the 

 eye lids light blue ; iris chestnut. Toes rich yellow ; claws 

 bluish black. Fore part of the head, cheeks, throat, and 



