14 FALCONIDJ3. 



to the arctic regions, particularly in the latter, breeding 

 on high precipitous rocks, always preferring a mountainous 

 country. Sir John Richardson considers that this bird is 

 seldom seen in North America far to the eastward of the 

 Rocky Mountains. M. Audubon saw one on the coast 

 of Labrador, besides others in various parts of the United 

 States of America. 



The Golden Eagle inhabits Iceland, Scandinavia, 

 Russia, and Germany. In France, according to M. 

 Temminck, it is not uncommon in the forests of Fontaine- 

 bleau, and it breeds in the Alps and Pyrenees. A range 

 still further to the southward and eastward is now ascer- 

 tained. The representative of the British Government 

 at Tangiers, included this species in a catalogue of the 

 birds of that country sent to the Zoological Society. 

 It is found in Sicily, in Asia Minor, and several parts 

 of India. 



The flight of the Golden Eagle is described by those 

 who have witnessed it as majestic and powerful in the 

 extreme ; and from the great strength of the bird, it- 

 preys with ease on fawns, lambs, hares, and other game, 

 very seldom feeding on fish or carrion, and rarely on 

 anything which it finds dead. Montagu relates, that 

 " when sporting in the neighbourhood of Ben-Lomond, 

 on the summit of the lesser mountains that form its base, 

 a Red Grouse was wounded, and flew with difficulty 

 eighty or a hundred paces. An Eagle, apparently of this 

 species, perceiving the laborious flight of the Grouse, 

 descended with rapid wing from the adjacent lofty cliffs 

 before our guns were reloaded, and, in defiance of the 

 shouts made to deter him, carried off Ms prey." In 

 another part of the Western Highlands of Scotland, 

 Montagu "had an opportunity of witnessing the powers 

 of the flight of this bird in pursuit of its quarry. An 



