170 



BiHDs OF I^oinii Cakoi.ixa 



The Rough-legged Hawk was recorded by Cairns as occasionally seen in winter 

 and s]iring in Buncombe County. Besides this, our only record is from Blowing 

 Bock, Watauga County, near wliich place one was seen Sejiteinljer 10, 1908, at 

 close range with au opera-glass by Z. P. Mctcalt'. He states that this individual 

 was of very dark jilumage. 



FuJ. 12!>. lioL Gii-LK(i<iKii Hawk. 



Genus Aquila (Briss.) 

 154. Aquila chrysaietos (Linn.). Ooldex E.\gle. 



Description. — Cildssy dm-k brown, lu-iid and neck paler fawny l)rown. Lcnfitli about throe 

 feet, spread of win^s nearly .seven feet; weifjlit seven or eiifbt pounds. Ea.sily dislinRuislied when 

 at close range from the inniiature Bald ICaple by the fact that feathers grow on the ankles and 

 feet entirely down to the toes. Its bill is also shorter. I,., 30.00 to :5.").()(); W., 23.00 to 24.75. 



linnge. — Northern jjortions of Europe, .Vsia, and .Vmerica, eliiefly in mountainous refjions. 



Range in NuTlh CaroUiKi. — Mountainous regions of the State, at all seasons; rare in the ea.stcrn 

 section. 



The CJolden Eagle, which is perhaps our hnest l)ird of |)rey. lias been cunsidered 

 until recently as confined in this State largely to the mountains, in which region 

 Cairns recorded it as quite common for so large a bird. The State Museum received 

 specimens from Cherokee an<l Swain comities in 1904 and 1911. 



As tending to show that the (lolden Eagle is not as exclusively a mountain liird 

 in this State as had been supjiosed, the following notes of its occurrence in the east 

 ai-e presented: On December 12, 1914, the State Musetun received one in the flesh 

 from Captain Haywood Clark of Wilmington. Inquiry elicited the fact that the 

 s|)ecimen had been killed a day or two before by Mr. H. .\. Ciierry, of Speed, X. C, 

 on the lands of the Roanoke and Tar River (lun Club, in Bertie Comity. Mr. 

 Cherry had just killed a Wild Tmke>' from a blind, and h.id remained in the blind 

 in the hope that others might be induced to come within shot. Suddenl.y this 

 eagle swooped down on the dead Turkey and attempted to carry it off, when it was 

 promptly killed by Mr. Cherry. 



