44 6 EASTERN EUROPE 



longer than the true nightingale, it is more sedate in its habits. In its food, as 



well as in the selection of the place for its nest, and the construction of the latter, 



it closely resembles the southern species, as it does in the colour of its eggs and 



young : its song is, however, rather different, being much stronger, and including 



certain bars that appear to have been imitated from the song-thrush. The song 



is more powerful than that of any other bird of equal size; the tone being deeper 



and bolder than that of the true nightingale, while the time is slower, and the 



cadences are divided by longer rests, and so shorter and more impressive. The 



breeding-area of this bird includes the eastern countries of Europe, commencing 



at the Oder. Towards the north it extends to Denmark, south Sweden, central 



Russia, and the valleys of the Ural. In Greece this bird is only a migrant, and 



eastwards it ranges through the Caucasus to northern Persia and Turkestan. 



The majority of the golden eagles of Europe nest in the higher 

 Golden Eagle. J ° ° r ° 



parts of the Carpathians, and the extensive forests of Prussia, 



Russian Poland, and Russia. In the Alps there are now but few of these noble 



birds left, this being largely due to the incessant persecution to which they are 



subjected. Nowhere much harm can. however, be done to the eyries, which are 



situated either on inaccessible cliff's or the uppermost branches of tall forest trees. 



Frequently the " horst " is a yard in height, and perhaps twice as much in diameter, 



with a flat top on which is a bed of green herbage, fern, heather, and moss. On 



this in March and April are laid two or three eggs, which may be of almost any 



shade from rich chestnut-brown to white, and are generally spotted. Seldom 



more than two young are found, often only one ; and round the eyrie there is 



always a supply of food brought by the parent birds. Mammals and birds of 



many species, including the smaller deer, badgers, foxes, martens, wild cats, rats, 



bustards, cranes, storks, herons, woodcock, and quail, constitute the prey of the 



golden eagle, which seems, however, to prefer hares and grouse. Long after sunset 



the two old birds start to hunt for prey. In the mountains they generally hunt 



along a rocky ledge in the neighbourhood of the nest, one always flying at some 



distance from the other. Having completed their quest there, they cross the 



valley in order to repeat the operation on the other side. After a midday rest and 



drink, a second expedition follows in the afternoon. The golden eagle can seize 



the swiftest mammals as they run, and swoop down on all birds as they fly. 



After a successful attack, when the prey is rendered helpless, the eagle frequently 



utters a joyful cry as it stands with raised wings, outspread tail, and bristling 



neck-feathers. These birds are able to render harmless the teeth of foxes by 



twisting the talons of one foot round the animal's muzzle, while they drive those 



of the other into the body, at the same time pressing down the victim with all 



their might, and keeping their balance by flapping their wings. Sometimes before 



the unhappy fox is quite dead the eagle will commence to tear it in pieces : but 



as a general rule it chokes its victim by seizing the throat as it drives in its 



talons. Golden eagles fly high with a powerful flight, the neck and feet being 



drawn in, and they seldom hover. 



The golden eagle (Aquila ckrysaetus) is met with in Europe in Sweden and 



eastern Prussia, and as far west, but rarely, as Spain, France, and Britain. 



In Hungary, Bohemia, Moravia, Austria, and Transylvania it is still far from 



