ACCIPITRES. FALCONID.E. 



and the veterans of Napoleon in modern times, 

 have fought and conquered beneath their eagle- 

 standards ; while at this day the Highland chief- 

 tain and the Indian Sagamore alike glory in the 

 eagle's plume as the most honourable ornament 

 with which they can be adorned. 



This magnificent bird is about three feet in 

 length ; its plumage is of a deep and rich umber- 

 brown, glossed on the back and wings with purple 

 reflections ; the feathers of the head and neck are 

 narrow and pointed, of an orange-brown hue, and 

 when shone upon by the sun, have a brilliant, 

 almost golden appearance. The tail is barred 

 with grey and obscure brown ; but, in youth, the 

 basal portion of the tail is white, with the tip 

 dark brown ; and in this plumage it has been 

 often described as a distinct species, by the name 

 of the Ring-tailed Eagle. 



The Golden Eagle is found throughout the 

 middle and north of Europe, and also in North 

 America : in the highest mountain ranges of our 

 own country it was formerly much more common 

 than it is now ; but in the wildest parts of the 

 Scottish Highlands it is still a frequent ornament 

 of their sublime scenery. The ravages committed 

 among the flocks at lambing time, when the 

 Eagles have young to feed, have, however, made 

 the destruction of these noble birds an object 

 of constant effort. In the three years ending 

 March, 1834, one hundred and seventy one old 

 Eagles, besides fifty-three young and eggs, were 

 destroyed in the county of Sutherland alone, so 

 that their numbers must be rapidly diminish- 

 ing. In Ireland it appears to be still numerous ; 

 and Mr. Thompson enumerates several situations 



