190 FIELD-STUDIES OF RARER BIRDS 



coming out at the moment, burnished with its 

 shining rays his frayed and shabby garb, especially 

 the hackle-like feathers of the neck. Then I knew 

 why this Eagle is called "golden." Presently my 

 friend must have fancied something wrong, yet he 

 was by no means startled. Simply expanding his 

 ample wings, he dropped leisurely off the pinnacle 

 and slid over me within fifteen yards, bending 

 down his broad head to survey the disturber 

 of his peace. During flight the terribly powerful, 

 feathered legs are held straight out under the tail, 

 and not, as some observers assert, gathered up 

 under the belly. 



He now made for the next " cove," and, half 

 closing his wings, shot downwards, described a 

 small circle, then alighted on a pad " adjoining 

 a big cleft in the cliff. His stay was merely 

 momentary, however, and he swept off to range 

 the mountain above. A little later he was back 

 again, and soared splendidly ere resting on a 

 pinnacle. Leaving this he was rudely mobbed by 

 half a dozen Rock-Doves, which looked mere 

 midgets by comparison with their mighty 

 adversary. The only notice he vouchsafed these 

 petty tormentors was to flick at one with his 

 powerful pinion, a blow w r hich, gentle though it 

 looked, had it taken effect, would indubitably 

 have sent the rash pigeon headlong and dead 

 to the seething cauldron of surf seven hundred 

 feet beneath. 



