208 AQUILA CHRYS^TOS — GOLDEN EAGLE. 



under parts deep brown. Hind head, and posterior and 

 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 reflec- 

 tions ; the wing coverts lighter. The primary quills brownish 

 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 frag- 

 ments of transeverse bands; the coverts pale brown, mottled 

 with white at the base, and x)aler at the ends. The short 

 feathers of the legs and tarsi are light j^ellowish 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 ux^per parts of the body is white, on the 

 lower pale dusky grey. 



" Length, 3 feet 2 inches ; extent of wings, 7 feet ; bill along 

 the back, 2f inches, edge of lower mandible 2| inches ; tarsus, 

 4| inches ; middle toe and claw, 4^ inches ; hind claw, 2| 

 inches. The extremitj^ of the wings are one inch short of 

 that of the tail." — Audithon. 



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 their identity. In comparing 

 Audubon's figure with some well executed figures of the 

 European bird, we cannot see any difi'erence in the mark- 

 ings, but it is necessary to compare 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. 



