THE GOLDEN EAGLE. 15 



This circumstance has led people to suppose that 

 the eagle never drinks, an idea which has been 

 proved to be wholly unfounded. If water is 

 offered to him in a state of captivity, he will 

 both drink it and bathe in it, like other birds. 

 Deserts and mountains are the favourite haunts 

 of the eagle tribe. 



The golden eagle dwells in solitary state in 

 the mountainous regions of Europe; likewise in 

 various parts of Asia. It is also found in Africa, 

 on the chain of Mount Atlas. In this kingdom, 

 it is to be met with only in the mountainous 

 parts of Ireland, and more rarely on the moun- 

 tains of Scotland. As these birds require a vast 

 quantity of food to sustain them, it is necessary 

 that they should have a wide circuit to range in 

 search of prey. For this reason, only a single 

 pair of eagles are ever found in one district. 

 There they dwell, amid their mountain fast- 

 nesses, the monarchs of a wide domain, and ap- 

 parently as little disposed to permit a rival on 

 the throne, as any of the princes of our nobler 

 race. In the grandeur of their dwelling-places 

 they have certainly an advantage over the kings 

 of the earth. The mountains and the rocks fur- 

 nish them with mighty palaces and towers of 

 strength, such as no mortal hand hath ever 

 builded. It is, indeed, in the midst of a noble 



