THE GOLDEN EAGLE. 287 



hieroglyphical inscriptions of Egypt. When young the color of its 

 plumage is a chocolate brown, tte neck and shoulders are covered with 

 gray-tipped feathers, and the beak and feet are a very dull ochry yellow. 

 The white plumage of the adult state is not attained until the bird has 

 completed its third year. 



As is the case with the Vultures in general, the Egyptian Vulture is 

 protected from injury by the strictest laws, a heavy penalty being laid 

 upon any one who should wilfully destroy one of these useful birds. 

 Secure under its human protection, the bird walks fearlessly about the 

 streets of its native land, perches upon the houses, and, in common 

 with the pariah dogs, soon clears away any refuse substances that are 

 thrown into the open streets in those evil-smelling and undrained local- 

 ities. This bird will eat almost anything which is not too hard for its 

 beak, and renders great service to the husbandman by devouring 

 myriads of lizards, rats, and mice, which would render all cultivation 

 useless were not their numbers kept within limits by the exertion of 

 this useful Vulture. It has also been seen to feed on the nara, a rough 

 water-bearing melon, in common with cats, leopards, mice, ostriches, 

 and many other creatures. The eggs of the ostrich are said to.be a 

 favorite food with the Egyptian Vulture, who is unable to break their 

 strong shells with his beak, but attains his object by carrying a great 

 pebble in the air and letting it drop upon the eggs. 



The wings of this species are extremely long in proportion to the 

 size of the bird, and their lofty soaring flight is peculiarly graceful. 

 It is but a small bird in comparison with many of those which have 

 already been mentioned, being not much larger than the common rook 

 of Europe. The nest of the Egyptian Vulture is made upon the shelf 

 or in the cleft of a lofty rock, and the gray-white eggs are three or 

 four in number. It is a curious fact that during the season of repro- 

 duction the male bird slightly changes his aspect, the yellow bill, 

 becoming orange, and retaining that tint until the breeding season is 

 over. Like many rapacious animals and birds, the Egyptian Vulture 

 does not disdain to feed on insects, and has been observed in the act 

 of following a ploughman along his furrow^s, picking up the worms 

 and frrubs after the fashion of the common rook. 



EAGLES. 



Next in order to the Vultures are placed the splendid birds which 

 are so familiar to us under the general title of Eagles, and which 

 form the first group of the great family Falconidse, which includes the 

 Eagles, Falcons, and Hawks. 



The first, and one of the finest, of thes^ grand birds is the well-known 

 Golden Eagle. This magnificent bird is spread over a large portion 



