CLASS II. AYES: ORDER 1. RAPTORES. 41 



This monarch of the mountain forests, over which he has reigned since the creation, is still 

 found exercising his dominion in the ancient and remote woods of Europe, Asia, and Amer- 

 ica, but more particularly in the northern parts. Nuttall thus describes it: "Near their rocky 

 nests they are seen usually in pairs, at times majestically soaring to a vast height, and gazing 

 on the sun, toward which they ascend until they disappear from view. From this sublime ele- 

 vation they often select their devoted prey — sometimes a kid or a lamb from the sporting flock, 

 or the timid rabbit or hare crouched in the furrow, or sheltered in some bush. The largest birds 

 are also frequently their victims, and in extreme want they will not refuse to join with the alarmed 

 vulture in liis cadaverous repast. After this gorging meal the eagle can, if necessary, fast for sev- 

 eral days. The precarious nature of his subsistence, and the violence by which it is constantly 

 obtained, seem to produce a moral eftect on the disposition of this rapacious bird ; though in pairs, 

 they are never seen associated with their young; their otfspring are driven forth to lead the 

 same unsocial, wandering life as their unfeeling progenitors. This harsh and tyrannical disposi- 

 tion is strongly displayed even when they lead a life of restraint and confinement. The weaker 

 bird is never willingly suffered to eat a morsel, and though he may cower and quail under the 

 blow with the most abject submission, the same savage deportment continues toward him as long 

 as he exists. Those which I have seen in confinement frequently uttered hoarse and stridulous 

 cries, sometimes almost barkings, accompanied by vaporous breathings, strongly expressive of their 

 ardent, unconquerable, and savage appetites. Their fire-darting eyes, lowei-ing brows, flat fore- 

 heads, restless disposition, and terrific plaints, together with their powerful natural weapons, seem 

 to assimilate them to the tiger rather than the timorous bird. Yet it would appear that they 

 may be rendered docile, as the Tartars, according to Marco Polo, in 1269, were said to tame 

 this species to the chase of hares, foxes, w^olves, antilopes, and other kinds of large game, in which 

 it displayed all the docility of the falcon. 



" The longevity of the eagle is as remarkable as its strength ; it is believed to subsist for a cen- 

 tury, and is about three years in gaining its complete growth and fixed plumage. This bird was 

 held in high estimation by the ancients on account of its extraordinary magnitude, courage, and 

 sanguinary habits. The Romans chose it as an emblem for their imperial standard, and from its 

 aspiring flight and majestic soaring it was fabled to hold communion with heaven, and to be the 

 favorite messenger of Jove. The Tartars have a particular esteem for the feathers of the tail, 

 with which they superstitiously think to plume invincible arrows. It is no less the venerated 

 war-eagle of our northern and western aborigines, and the caudal feathers are extremely valued 

 ibr talismanic head-dresses, and as sacred decorations for the pipe of peace." 



The Imperial Eagle, A. imperialls or A. heliaca or A. mogilnih, was long confounded with 

 the golden eagle ; it inhabits the mountain forests of Southern Europe and Northern Africa. The 

 head, which has a light crest, is of a slaty-gray color; the upper parts nearly black, the feathers 

 terminating in lighter shades; under surface, from the breast, white. 



Other species are Bonelli's Eagle, A. fascia ta, or A. Bonellil, inhabiting Southern Europe ; the 

 RouGii-FOOTED Eagle, or Little Eagle, or Spotted Eagle, or Crying Eagle, A. ncevia, or A. 

 ?naculata, found in the mountain forests of the north, east, and south of Europe, and uttering a 

 continual plaintive cry, from whicli one of its popular names is derived ; the Booted Eagle, A. 

 penriata, the smallest of European Eagles, being only eighteen inches long, found in the south of 

 Europe; Gifford's Eagle, A. armiqcra, or A, bellicosa., an African species, equal to the 

 Golden Eagle in size; the Tawny Eagle, A. ncevioides, the Bold Eagle, A. auclax, Rein- 

 wardt's Eagle, A. Malayensis ; the Yulturine Eagle or Caffre Eagle, A. vulturina, of the 

 size of the largest eagles, and approaching the vultures in its ibrm and habits. 



Geims HALIAETUS : Haliaetus ; this term, signifying Sea Eagle, includes several species 

 called Flshinr/ Ea/ilcs, at the head of which may be placed the species most fimiliar in this 

 country, the Bald Eagle, or White-headed Eagle, H. leucoccphalus. It is thirty-five to 

 forty inches in length ; the head above and behind, with the neck, is sometimes white, whence, 

 from its appearance, the term of bald is given to the species ; often, however, these parts are 

 light brownish-fulvous, varying, however, in shade, in different specimens ; the tail pure white ; 

 other parts rich purplish brown. The variations of its color, in different stages of growth, caused 



YoL. II— 0. 



