40 EAGLES. 



do not permit other birds of prey to reside in the vicinity of their 

 abode ; they do not even permit their young to share the domain 

 wherein they are established, and drive them off as soon as they 

 are able to provide for themselves. The male and female are 

 generally seen at a short distance from each other, and they seem 

 to have a sort of understanding with each other in hunting ; it is 

 asserted, that one of the two beats the bushes while the other 

 awaits on some rock or neighbouring tree, to seize the startled 

 game in its flight. While the female is detained in the eyry by 

 the incubation of her eggs, or by the cares required by her young 

 the male hunts alone, and, as it is the season when game begins 

 to abound, he easily provides for his own subsistance as well as 

 for that of his companion. These animals can endure very 

 long fasting, especially when captivity or maternal cares force 

 them to repose. A common eagle taken in a snare, has been 

 known to pass five weeks without taking any aliment, and not ap- 

 pear enfeebled, except during the last eight days. The capacity 

 of their crop is very considerable, and this pouch may serve as a 

 reservoir of food sufficient for several days. 



42. Eagles properly so called, are found in all parts of the 

 eastern continent, and some species belong to New Holland. In 

 general, they inhabit the main land, and do not establish them- 

 selves either on narrow peninsulas or on islands, unless they are 

 of great extent. They live on mountains and ordinarily con- 

 struct their nests or pyties on the highest and most precipitous 

 rocks, or on the platform of some deserted tower. These nests 

 are of considerable extent, and rest most frequently on some flat 

 surface found amongst the rocks ; they are built of pieces of 

 wood, which are often five or six feet in length ; their interior is 

 lined with moss and dry leaves; and their height increases 

 every year by the accumulation of the bones of animals which 

 these birds bring to their nests. In short, eagles never change 

 their eyry; the one they build for their first laying of eggs serves 

 them for the remainder of their lives. 



43. In the genus of Eagles, as well as in all other birds of 

 prey, the female is much larger than the male, arid seems to 

 be also the most courageous. She lays but two or three eggs 

 every year, and frequently rears only a single eagle at a time. 

 The duration of incubation, (at least for the imperial eagle,) is 

 thirty days. 



42. Where are Eagles found f What situations do they select for their 

 nests ? 



43. How does the female differ from the male E igles ? How many eggs 

 does she lay in a year ? 



