GOLDEN EAGLE. 197 



Family FALCONID^E. Genus AQUILA. 



Sub-Fam ily A Q UIL1NJE. 



GOLDEN EAGLE. 



AQUILA CHRYSAETUS (Linnaus). 

 Single Brooded. Laying season, March or early April. 



BRITISH BREEDING AREA: Two hundred years ago 

 the Golden Eagle bred in Derbyshire ; less than a 

 hundred years ago its nest might be found in the 

 districts of the English Lakes. It is now banished from 

 every lowland haunt, and only breeds locally and in 

 limited, if slowly increasing, numbers in the remote 

 fastnesses of the Highlands and the Hebrides. Here 

 we are glad to know it is protected to a certain extent 

 by the landowners, and doubtless will for years to come 

 continue to breed. In Ireland also it was formerly a 

 fairly common bird ; now but a few odd pairs survive 

 in the wilder districts of the north and west. 



BREEDING HABITS : The Golden Eagle is a resident 

 in our islands, but wanders about a good deal during 

 the non-breeding season. Its nesting haunts are among 

 the most secluded mountains, in the wild romantic glens 

 and near the deep sea lochs, or in the quiet fastnesses 

 of the Highland deer-forests. The Golden Eagle pairs 

 for life, and usually frequents one favourite breeding- 

 place for years, although the same nest may not be 

 used each successive season. The bird is not at all 

 social, only living in close company with its mate 

 during the nesting period, each pair having a sort of 

 vested right in a very wide area of country. The nest 

 is usually placed on some inland crag, often on the side 

 of a glen, and rarely if ever on a tree, in our islands 

 nowadays. The only nest I ever knew on a maritime 



