14 RAPTORES. AQUILA. EAGLE. 



of the bill, the number of scales upon the feet, and anatomi- 

 cal structure, they appear perfectly similar *. 



It is amongst the largest of the European species, the fe- 

 males often measuring three feet and a half in length, and 

 upwards of eight feet across, when the wings are extended. 

 It is a native of the mountainous parts of Ireland and Scot- 

 land, where it still by no means of rare occurrence, and 

 may generally be seen soaring to a vast height in the air. 

 In those districts, it often commits great havoc amongst the 

 lambs, and is therefore proscribed by the inhabitants, who 

 use every method in their power to extirpate the breed ; but 

 the inaccessible nature of the cliffs in which its eyry is gene- 

 rally placed, proves a sufficient safeguard. 



Food. Jt s prey consists of the larger quadrupeds and birds, such 

 as roebucks, fawns, lambs, black and red grouse, &c. ; and 

 it is only under extremity of hunger that the Golden Eagle 

 Nest, &c. w ill f e ed upon a dead carcass or carrion. Its nest is usually 

 placed upon some shelf of rock, or on the summit of a tree 

 that springs from the cliff ; is of large dimensions, and formed 

 of sticks, heath, &c. The eggs, generally two in number, 

 are of a greyish-white colour, clouded with spots of reddish- 

 brown -f*. An interesting description of the nest and young 



* According to Mr BULLOCK, both the Fulvus and Chrysattos breed in 

 the Orkneys. I do not mean to doubt the assertion, so far as supposition 

 extends ; but may not the mere separation of residence that takes place 

 between the adult birds, and those yet in an immature state, lead cursory 

 observers to think that the process of incubation, &c. is going on in both 

 situations ? If such is the fact, and they are the same species, it would 

 appear that the imperfect state of plumage, in their progress to the adult 

 bird, does not retard maturity, with respect to propagation ; though we 

 might look for such an effect, from knowing that many species of the ge- 

 nus Larus (Gull) do not breed previous to the attainment of their adult 

 plumage. What would therefore contradict the usual course of Nature, 

 must be admitted with suspicion, and leads me, inclined as I am to the 

 opinion of their identity, to believe in the unintentional inaccuracy of the 

 assertion. It is a point fairly open to strict examination, and one that 

 courts positive proof. 



f Since the publication of the first Edition of this Work, the female bird 

 above mentioned and figured, has for three successive years laid one egg 



