BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 133 



feeds principally on moles, mice and other small quadrupeds, and never 

 attacks a duck on the wing, although now and then it pursues a wounded 

 one. When not alarmed it usually flies low and sedately, and does not 

 exhibit any of the courage and vigor so conspicuous in most other hawks, 

 suffering thousands of birds to pass without pursuing them. The 

 greatest feat I have ever seen it perform was scrambling at the edge of 

 the water to secure a lethargic frog. They alight on trees to roost, but 

 appear so hungry or indolent at all times that they seldom retire to rest 

 until after dusk. Their large eyes, indeed, seem to indicate their pos- 

 session of the faculty of seeing at that late hour. I have frequently put 

 up one that seemed watching for food at the edge of a ditch long after 

 sunset. Whenever an opportunity offers they eat to excess, and, like 

 the Turkey Buzzards and Carrion Crows, disgorge their food, to enable 

 themselves to fly off. The species is more nocturnal in its habits than 

 any other hawk found in the United States. The number of meadow 

 mice which this species destroys ought, one might think, to secure it 

 the protection of every husbandman." Audubon. 



In the stomachs of eleven of these hawks, which I have examined, 

 were found only field mice. 



GENUS AQUILA BRISSON. 

 Aquila chrysaetos (LiNN.). 



Golden Eagle. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Tarsi densely feathered all round to base of yellow toes. Length about 3 feet ; 

 extent 6| to 1\ feet. 



Adult. General color dark brown ; the lengthened, pointed feathers of hind-neck 

 golden brown ; feathers of tarsi pale yellowish-brown ; tail blackish and grayish. 



Young. Basal two-thirds of tail white, with a blackish terminal band ; lower 

 parts much lighter than adult. 



Habitat. North America south to Mexico, and northern parts of the Old World. 



This large bird occurs in Pennsylvania as an occasional winter visi- 

 tant. The only species with which it is sometimes confounded is the 

 Bald or White-headed Eagle in immature plumage. The two species 

 can always be distinguished at a single glance, if you remember that 

 the Golden Eagle has the tarsus densely feathered to the toes, and the 

 Bald Eagle has a bare tarsus. One of the largest Golden Eagles I ever 

 saw was captured in December, 1889, by a hunter, in Cameron county. 

 This bird, which was handsomely mounted by my friend, Mr. M. M. 

 Larrabee, of Emporium, weighed, Mr. Larrabee informed me, twenty- 

 five pounds. This bird breeds in high mountainous regions and the 

 Arctic countries. 



The following mention of the peculiarities of the Golden Eagle in 

 captivity I gleaned from conversation with Mr. B. M. Everhart, who for 



