68 THE GOLDEN EAGLE. 



the feathers on the tarsi, white; the feathers of the 

 wings, white at their bases ; and the tail, white, for a 

 part of its length from the root, which becomes less 

 at each successive moulting. These distinctions dimi- 

 nish till the fourth year, when the bird arrives at its 

 full size ; they are then lost, and the age cannot be 

 known for a number of years. The story that is usually 

 told about the eagle renewing her age, is of course 

 without foundation, though it probably relates to the 

 moulting or change of the feathers, which happens to 

 the eagle as well as to other birds. 



Though the golden eagle, as found in this country, 

 be perfectly untameable, there is a constant sexual 

 attachment in the race. The greater number of other 

 birds pair only during the breeding season, and become 

 indifferent to each other after the young can subsist by 

 themselves ; but the nuptials of the eagle are for life. 

 After a male and female have paired, they never sepa- 

 rate, or change their abode, and rear all their successive 

 broods in the same nest, which being made of strong 

 twigs five or six feet long, firmly wattled and placed 

 in some fissure or hollow of an abrupt rock, is sup- 

 posed to last for centuries with only additional repairs. 

 The pair, though they drive off their young, and, 

 indeed, every creature but man. whose haunts they 

 shun, arc closely associated together : when the one is 

 seen for any length of time, the other is sure not to 

 be far distant ; and the one may often be seen flying 

 low and beating the bushes, while the other floats high 

 in air, in order to pounce upon the frightened prey. 



The time that they live, has not been accurately 

 ascertained i but their longevity must be very great. 



