BIRDS. 



285 



are a large number of species, among which we may 

 mention our bald eagle, so called from its white-feathered 

 head, and the golden eagle, which is distributed all over 



FIG. 232. 



GOLDEN EAGLE (Aquila chrysaetus), ADULT MALE. From E. T. Booth's 

 " Birds of the British Islands" (Porter, London, 1881). 



Europe and North America, and attains a length of 

 nearly three feet. The osprey is variously called the fish- 

 hawk and the fishing eagle ; it feeds entirely on fish. 

 Falcons and kites are found principally in Europe, the 

 former feeding on even large birds, while the kite is a 

 scavenger, though he sometimes robs the barn-yard. The 

 true buzzards are an inferior sort of eagles ; one of them 

 is commonly called the hen-hawk. The vultures are dis- 

 tinguished from the preceding species by their naked 

 head and neck, and the relatively inferior strength of 



