HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



309 



and smaller species ; and so familiar that it frequents 

 the towns, and plies as a scavenger in the streets, in 

 which office it is protected by the inhabitants. It is 

 about two feet 'two inches in length, and four feet four 

 inches in the stretch of the wings. The general color 

 is dull black, with some white on the insidcs of the 

 primary quills. It is a dull and sluggish bird, and the 

 smell of it is peculiarly offensive. 



The Golden Eagle (Aquila Chrysaetos,) is one of 

 the most powerful of the eagle tribe. Its feathers are 

 much prized by the Indians as ornaments, and are 

 attached to their pipes or calumets, whence they call 

 the bird the Calumet Eagle. It is seen on the coast 

 and in the woods and mountainous parts of California. 



The following are nearly the average external 

 characters of the female Golden Eagle, which is the 

 more powerful bird, and therefore the typical one, 

 at that age when the colors expressive of youth 

 have disappeared, and those of old age have not come 

 on : Tip of the bill and the claws black ; basal part 

 of the bill bluish ; naked skin or cere at the base of 

 the bill, and toes, which are the only naked parts of 

 the feet, yellow ; irides of the eyes bright orange 

 brown, inclining to yellow ; crown of the head and 

 nape of the neck bright orange brown ; sometimes, in 

 birds which have passed a certain age, margined with 

 white, which becomes broader as age increases. The 

 feathers on the neck narrow, pointed, and very distinct, 

 bristling out from each other when the bird is in a 

 state of excitement ; chin and throat rich dark brown, 

 passing gradually into pale reddish brown on the 

 under part, in which it terminates in the vent feathers, 

 and feathers on the tarsi, the latter being slender and 

 very much produced ; upper part deep orange brown, 



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