-o A HISTORY OF 



The screech-owl, by the feathers at the base of the b,li stanJing 

 forward and being without horns. A description of one in each kind, 

 will serve for all the rest. 



CHAPTER H. 



EAGLE AND ITS AFFINITIES. 



THE Golden Eagle is the largest and the noblest of all those birds 

 that have received the name of eagle. It weighs above twelve pounds. 

 Its length is three feet ; the extent of its wings seven feet four inches ; 

 the bill is three inches long, and of a deep blue colour ; and the eye 

 of a hazel colour. The sight, and sense of smelling, are very acute. 

 The head and neck are clothed with narrow sharp-pointed feathers, 

 and of a deep brown colour, bordered with tawny ; but those on the 

 crown of the head, in very old birds, turn gray. The whole body, 

 above as well as beneath, is of a dark brown ; and the feathers of the 

 back are finely clouded with a deeper shade of the same. The wings, 

 when clothed, reach to the end of the tail. The quill-feathers are of 

 a chocolate colour, the shafts white. The tail is of a deep brown, ir- 

 regularly barred and blotched with an obscure ash-colour, and usually 

 white at the roots of the feathers. The legs are yellow, short, and 

 very strong, being three inches in circumference, and feathered to the 

 very feet. The toes are covered with large scales, and armed with 

 the most formidable claws, the middle of which are two inches long. 



In the rear of this terrible bird follow the ring-tailed eagle, the 

 common eagle, the bald eagle, the white eagle, the rough-footed eagle, 

 the erne, the black eagle, the osprey, the sea-eagle, and the crowned 

 eagle. These, and others that might be added, form different shades 

 in this fierce family ; but have all the same rapacity, the same general 

 form, the same habits, and the same manner of bringing up their 

 young. 



In general, these birds are found in mountainous and ill-peopled 

 countries, and breed among the loftiest cliffs. They choose those 

 places which are remotest from man, upon whose possessions they 

 but seldom make their depredations, being contented rather to fol- 

 low the wild game in the forest, than to risk their safety to satisfy 

 their hunger. 



This fierce animal may be considered among birds as the lion among 

 quadrupeds ; and in many respects they have a strong similitude to 

 each other. They are both possessed of force, and an empire over 

 their fellows of the forest. Equally magcanimous, they disdain smaller 

 plunder, .and only pursue animals worthy the conquest. It is not till 

 after having been long provoked by the cries of the rook, or the mag. 

 pie, that this generous bird thinks fit to punish them with death : I'IF 



