14 FALCOMD.E. 



the arctic regions, particularly in the latter, breeding on 

 high precipitous rocks, always preferring a mountainous 

 country. Dr. Richardson considers that this bird is sel- 

 dom seen in North America far to the eastward of the 

 Rocky Mountains. Mr. Audubon saw one on the coast 

 of Labrador, besides others in various parts of the United 

 States of America. 



The Golden Eagle inhabits Iceland, Scandinavia, Rus- 

 sia, and Germany. In France, according to M. Tem- 

 minck, it is not uncommon in the forests of Fontainebleau, 

 and it breeds in the Alps and Pyrenees. A range still 

 farther to the southward and eastward is now ascertained. 

 The representative of the British Government at Tangiers, 

 included this species in a catalogue of the birds of that 

 country sent to the Zoological Society. It is found in 

 Sicily, in Asia Minor, and several parts of India. 



The flight of the Golden Eagle is described by those 

 who have witnessed it as majestic and powerful in the 

 extreme ; and from the great strength of the bird, it preys 

 with ease on fawns, lambs, hares, and other game, very 

 seldom feeding on fish or carrion, and rarely on anything 

 which it finds dead. Montagu relates, that " when sport- 

 ing in the neighbourhood of Ben-Lomond, on the summit 

 of the lesser mountains that form its base, a Red Grouse 

 was wounded, and flew with difficulty eighty or a hundred 

 paces. An Eagle, apparently of this species, perceiving 

 the laborious flight of the Grouse, descended with rapid 

 wing from the adjacent lofty cliffs before our guns were 

 reloaded, and, in defiance of the shouts made to deter 

 him, carried off his prey." In another part of the West- 

 ern Highlands of Scotland, Montagu " had an opportunity 

 of witnessing the powers of the flight of this bird in pur- 

 suit of its quarry. An old Black Cock was sprung, and 



