RAPTORES. AQUILA. 11 



GENUS AQUILA (Bmss.) EAGLE. 



GENERIC CHARACTERS. 



BILL strait at the base, strong, much hooked at the point, 

 compressed, with the sides inclining upwards, and forming a 

 narrow ridge or culmen. The tomia or cutting edges of the 

 upper mandibles having a faint obtuse lobe, situated behind 

 the commencement of the hook. Nostrils oval lateral, trans- 

 versely placed in the cereous part of the bill. Space between 

 the nostrils and eye-orbits thinly covered with radiating hairs. 

 Wings ample ; with the fourth and fifth quill-feathers the 

 longest in each wing. Legs having the tarsi thickly clothed 

 with feathers to the toes. Toes rather short, the outer and 

 middle ones united at the base by a membrane. Claws very 

 strong, hooked, and very sharp, grooved beneath ; those up- 

 on the outer and hind toes the largest. 



The members of this genus are not less distinguished for 

 their size and strength than for those bold and destructive 

 habits, in which they emulate the typical subdivisions of the 

 Family. They do not, however, possess the same facility of 

 pursuing their prey upon wing, which we see in the Falcons 

 and Hawks ; for though their flight is very powerful, they 

 are not capable of the rapid evolutions that attend the aerial 

 attacks of the above named groups ; in consequence of which 

 their prey is mostly pounced upon the ground. They attack 

 the larger birds and animals, and, unless pressed by extre- 

 mity of hunger, refuse to feed upon carrion, or even any 

 prey already dead. Their form is compact and strong, and 

 their gait and aspect are active and alert, being entirely de- 

 void of the sluggish appearance that characterizes the genera 

 more nearly allied in habits and form to the Vulturidce. The 

 n en us possesses an extensive geographical distribution, the 

 species being found in all quarters of the globe. These are 



