GOLDEN EAGLE. 



PLATE IV. 



Aquila cJirysfietos, SELBT. 



Falco chrysaetos, MONTAGU. 



" fwlvus, 



LIKE tlie preceding species, the Golden Eagle locates its nest among 

 high and inaccessible rocks and precipices, or on the rifted bole of 

 some hoary tree, which formerly grew up in vigour in the lonely 

 solitude, but now only remains a mournful wreck, 'lean, rent, and 

 beggared by the strumpet wind/ Occasionally, though less frequently, 

 a forest tree is pitched upon, reference being naturally had, as was 

 the case with other predatory freebooters in the olden days, to a 

 good look-out, both for purposes of aggression and self-defence. 

 The Eagle's plume was no unfit badge for many an ancient 

 chieftain, and the cap too of many a truly noble man has worn it. 



'Fitzjames alone wore cap and plume, 

 And Snowdown's knight is Scotland's king.' 



The nest is very large, and the more so, inasmuch as it is 

 always, where possible, re-constructed of, or rather built upon, the 

 old materials, the same eyrie being made use of for many successive 

 years, or it may even be for many generations; the consequence of 

 the most favourable locality as to food and security combined having 

 been originally selected. The same instinct that prompted the Eagle 

 of a thousand years ago, guides with the like unerring judgment his 

 descendant of our own day in the nineteenth century. 



The nest, according to some, has no lining, but is stated by others 

 to be lined a little with grass or wool; and where these cannot be 



