GOLDKA EAGLE. 173 



prevails considerably in the true Eagles, and is 

 greatly developed in the New Holland Wedge- 

 tailed Eagle, (Aq. fucosa.) The colour of the 

 tail is grayish brown, palest and almost ap- 

 proaching to white on the base of the inner 

 webs, only the whole appears very dark from 

 the crowded arrangement of the dark mark- 

 ings ; these are of very deep umber or blackish 

 brown, disposed in bars across, and irregular 

 clouding in the intervals. In the young birds, 

 the terminal band is always present ; but the 

 base of the whole tail is pure white, which is 

 gradually obliterated by the occurrence of addi- 

 tional bars and clouded markings year after year, 

 commencing at first immediately above the ter- 

 minal bar, and gradually ascending and becoming 

 closer as their age advances. White also predo- 

 minates on the other parts of the plumage ; the 

 quills and secondaries have a much greater pro- 

 portion at the base, and there is a similar distribu- 

 tion in greater or less proportions at the roots of 

 the feathers over the whole body, which, as with 

 the tail, is lost and obscured by the gradual occur- 

 rence of bars and cloudings. The irides of the 

 young birds are dark, but with age grow paler, 

 and become a clear orange brown. The colours 

 of the cere and legs, from greenish yellow, assume 

 a pure gamboge tint. 



