GENUS I. 

 FALCO. 



d',. furnished with a wax-like membrane 

 or cere, tongue bifid. 



1. CHRYSAETOS. GOLDEN EAGLE. 



F. Fusco-ferrugineus, rostro plumbeo cera, pedibus- 

 queflavis, cauda basi cinereo undulata. Shaw's 

 Zoology. 



Bill bluish- black ; cere and legs yellow, feathered 

 to the toes. Irides hazel.* Plumage dark brown ; 

 the feathers of the head and neck are long and nar- 

 row, bordered with tawny ; quill feathers chocolate 

 brown ; tail deep brown, dashed with ash colour, and 

 white at the roots. 



Weight 12lbs. length 3J feet, breadth 8 feet. It 

 breeds in Scotland) but rare, eggs 3 or 4 white. 



* The colour of the iris in birds, in a state of nature is in 

 general a permanent character. There are, however, some 

 exceptions which have led to confusion. In the genus Falco 

 everal instances have occurred where the same species has 

 been described with the iris dark grey, or golden yellow. 

 Chrysaetos is usually described as golden, which appears to 

 be the case in young birds. See Werner. Trans, vol. 2. 

 In domestic fowls, &c. the iris appears to vary almost 

 equally with the plumage. 



