AQU1LA CHRYSAETUS. 319 



CKXUSI. AQUILA. THE EAGLES. 



(IKN-. Cn. Pastrrior margin of sternum, indented with a wide, shallow scallop. Bill, strong and curved, with thecut- 



tin<j < (/'/ <;/' ii/i/itr mandible sli;/hllij lulu-it. Tail, runsitli ralily rounded. 



Members of tin-; genu< are very large and strung and the colors on both surfaces are generally dark with few or nocon- 

 spicuous markings. There is but one species found within our limits. 



AQUILA CHEYSAETUS. 







Golden Eagle. 

 Agvila chrysaetus LINN., Syst. Nat., I; 1766, 125. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. Cu. Form, very robust. Size, large. Tarsus, feathered to the toes. Sternum, stout, with the tip of keel round- 

 ed, liili, strmij; and well-curved. Sexes, similar in color. 



Count. Ailult. General color throughout, dark-brown, with a purplish tinge, lightest on the head, neck, shoulders, 

 tibia, and tarsus; darkest on the wings, tail, and under portions. Feathers of head, neck, tibia, and tarsus, tipped and 

 edged with de.-]i yellowish-rufous 1'nsc of tnil, white. 



Youny. .Similar to the adult, but lighter everywhere and the basal two thirds of the tail is white. Iris and bill, 

 brown, cere and fec-t, yellow, in all stages. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



There is a little variation in plumage, some specimens being darker or lighter than the type. In the transitional dress 

 between the ad 11 It and young, the tail is occasionally mottled with white. The young with the wide band of white on the 

 tail is tin' Ring-tailed Eagle of the older authors. This species may be recognized by the large size, wholly feathered tar- 

 sus, and colors as described. Distributed, as a constant resident, throughout the mountainous portions of North America. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of female specimens from Eastern North America. Length, 37'45; stretch, 85'00; wing, 24'00; 

 tail, 1") (Hi; bill, 1 (;,">; tarsus, 4'52. Longe-t specimen, 38'GO; greatest extent of wing, 86'50; longest wing, 25-00; tail, Ki'OO; 

 bill, 1-75; tarsus, 4'GO. Shortest specimen, 3G'2~>; smallest extent of wing, 84'25; shortest wing, 23'00: tail, U'OO; bill, 1-50; 

 tarsus, 4-00. 



A', eragc measurements of male specimens from Eastern North America. Length, 32'50; stretch, 83'00; wing, 21-75; 

 tail, 13-00; bill, 1 ;V>; tarsus, 3'75. Longest specimen, 35'00; greatest extent of wing, 84'00; longe-twing,23'50; tail, 14'00; 

 bill, 1-G5; tarsus, 4-00. Shortest specimen, 30'UO; smallest extent of wing, 82'CO; shortest wing, 20'50; tail, 1200; bill, 

 1--10; tarsus, 3'50. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed on rocky shelves of steep cliffs. They are bulky structures, composed of sticks and twigs, arranged in a 

 compact manner. 



!, one, two, or three, in number, varying from elliptical to spherical in form, dirty-white or creamy in color, oc- 

 casionally immaculate, but usually spotted and blotched with pale reddish-brown to which is sometimes added a faint tinge 

 of purpIMi. Dimensions, from 2'18x2'65 to 2'52x3'30. 



HABITS. 



There are few birds of a large size upon which the settlement of the country has had 

 so little effect as upon the Golden Eagles. As a rule, the inroads of civilization cause a 

 perceptible decrease in the numbers of rapacious birds but this is true only to a very limited 

 extent with the species now under consideration; indeed, it may be questioned if there are 

 l-ss Golden Eagles today in Eastern North America than there were when the Pilgrims 

 landed at Plymouth. Nor has their distribution changed much, if any, for they have ever 

 inhabited almost inaccessible mountain cliffs. They seldom leave their rocky fastnesses 

 and when they do move from point to point, it is at a great elevation; and in addition to 

 this, when we consider that there are few birds in the world, which are more wary, we can 



