THE EAGLE-LIKE SUBFAMILY 



1987 



THE FEATHERED METATARSUS OF THE 

 GOLDEN EAGLE. 



the fourth quill rather the longest. The feathered metatarsus is of moderate length ; 

 and its reticulated scales extend far on to the toes, which have only a few large 

 scutes near the claws, these features 

 at once serving to distinguish the 

 limb of one of these birds from that 

 of a sea eagle. The claws are of 

 moderate size and curvature. They 

 are mostly birds of plain and dark 

 colored plumage, with the iris of the 

 eye some tinge of brown. Inferior 

 in courage to the falcons, the eagles 

 are much superior in this respect to 

 the kites and buzzards; and, while 

 the majority kill their own prey, few 

 will refuse to eat the carcasses of 

 such animals as they may find dead, 

 and some feed greedily on carrion. 

 The range of the genus includes the 

 whole of Europe and Africa, and 

 the greater part of Asia, but stops 

 short of the Malayan region and does 



not extend to Australia. In America eagles are found as far south as Mexico. 



From its large size and magnificent appearance, the golden eagle 



g e (Aquila chrysaetus) has by almost universal assent been regarded as 



the "king of birds," although the tendency of modern writers has been rather to 



detract from the boldness and fierceness of its character, and one at least has even 



gone so far as to suggest the accusation of downright cowardice. All, however, 



who have enjoyed (as the writer has) the opportunity of seeing the flight of this 



splendid bird, are in full accord as to its power and majestic character. 



The female of the golden eagle usually attains a length of thirty-five and one- 

 half inches, while the male is some three inches less. In the fully adult bird, the 

 pointed feathers covering the head and neck are rufous brown, tending to tawny 

 on the back of the neck; while the general color of the plumage of the upper parts 

 is blackish brown, with light margins to the feathers of the middle of the back and 

 the wing coverts. The primary quills are nearly black; the feathers of the abdo- 

 men, thighs, and legs pale brown, and the remainder of the under parts blackish 

 brown. The tail is blackish at the tip and browner toward the root, where it is 

 mottled with ashy gray, while it is crossed near the middle with one or two gray- 

 ish bands. The beak is bluish-horn color, darkening at the tip; the cere yellow; 

 the iris hazel; while the feet are yellow, with black claws. In young birds, as 

 shown in the cut on next page, the whole of the root of the tail is whitish or 

 pure white, becoming gradually mottled with gray and brown toward the middle, 

 and only the terminal third of the feathers is nearly black. The feathers on the 

 back of the neck are thus generally less rufous, the general color of the plumage of 

 the body and wings is darker and more uniform, and the primary quills, save the 



