A BIRDLOVER'S YEAR 



and Northern Asia, extending southwards 

 into Northern China and Himalaya. During 

 the winter months it is a common visitor 

 to Palestine, being also met with in Arabia, 

 Egypt, and Abyssinia, whilst it breeds in 

 Algeria. In the New World it is to be found 

 from Alaska to California and Mexico. 



In Britain the golden eagle is only to be 

 found breeding in the Highlands of Scot- 

 land. 



Owing to the fact that it levies a heavy 

 toll upon blue hares and grouse, which are 

 the bete noire of the stalker, this bird is 

 protected in most deer-forests, and year after 

 year the same nest will be occupied. 



As far as prey is concerned, the golden 

 eagle feasts largely on hares, rabbits, grouse, 

 &c., with occasional lambs and fawns. The 

 stories of its courage and prowess have been 

 largely exaggerated, though it is a bird 

 possessed of much spirit. In falconry the 

 golden eagle was never employed with 

 much success, being too heavy a bird 

 to turn swiftly, and the sullenness of its 

 disposition making it almost impossible to 

 work with. 



Tennyson, who has written so much on 

 K 145 



