172 GOLDEN EAGLE. 



these twelve or fifteen years, that modern ornitho- 

 logists were really convincedof thereverse and ven- 

 tured to unite the various names as synonymous. 

 In a wild state, the plumage attains its adult con- 

 dition nearly by the third year, though the colours 

 of the base of the tail darken considerably after . 

 that. In confinement, it often does not take place 

 fully until the fourth or fifth year, and a female 

 which we kept from the nest for six years, had 

 the base of the tail feathers in the intervals be- 

 tween the dark bars remarkably pure. 



The colours of the adult birds are generally a 

 deep and rich umber brown, glossed with purple 

 on the back and wings ; on the hind head and back 

 of the neck, the feathers are of a hackled or lan- 

 ceolate form, pale orange brown, occasionally 

 edged with a paler tint, and when shone upon by 

 the sun or a strong light, have a brilliant, almost 

 golden appearance. The fronts of the thighs, 

 shoulders, and tarsi, are of the same pale orange 

 brown colour. The quills are blackish brown, 

 nearly black, white towards the base on the inner 

 webs, and clouded with grayish black. The 

 secondaries are clouded with hair brown, brocoli 

 brown, and umber brown. The tail, with the 

 exception of the centre feathers, is nearly 

 square; these are narrowed towards the point, 

 and exceed the others in length, a form which 



