224 



DIURNAL BIRDS OF PREY. 



some tinge of brown. Inferior in courage to the falcons, the eagles are much 

 superior in this respect to the kites and buzzards ; and, while the majority kill 

 their own prey, few will refuse to eat the carcases of such animals as they may 

 tind dead, and some feed greedily on carrion. The range of the genus includes 

 the whole of Europe and Africa, and the greater part of Asia, but stops short of 

 the Malayan region and does not extend to Australia. In America eagles are found 

 as far south as Mexico. 



From its large size and magnificent appearance, the golden eagle 

 (Aquila chrysaetus) has by almost universal assent been regarded 

 as the " king of birds," although the tendency of modem writers has been rather 

 to detract from the boldness and fierceness of its character, and one at least has 



Ctolden Eagle. 



GOLDEN EAGLE S EYKIK. 



even gone so far as to suggest the accusation of downright cowardice. All, how- 

 ever, who have enjoyed (as the writer has) the opportunity of seeing the flight 

 of this splendid bird, are in full accord as to its power and majestic character. 



The female of the golden eagle usually attains a length of 35 J inches, while 

 the male is some 3 inches less. In the fully adult bird, the pointed feathers 

 covering the head and neck are rufous brown, tending to tawny on the back of 

 the neck ; while the general colour of the plumage of the upper-parts is blackish 

 brown, with light margins to the feathers of the middle of the back and the wing- 

 coverts. The primary quills are nearly black ; the feathers of the abdomen, thighs, 

 and legs, pale brown -, and the remainder of the under-parts blackish brown. The 

 tail is blackish at the tip and browner towards the root, where it is mottled with 

 ashy grey, while it is crossed near the middle with one or two greyish bands The 

 beak is bluish horn-colour, darkening at the tip ; the cere yellow ; the iris hazel ; 



