128 ACCIPITRES. 



represent a foot of the mountain eagle and one of the fishing 

 eagle. 



CLUTCHING FEET. 



m 



Golden Eagle. Osprey. 



The first of these is adapted for striking prey to the 

 ground, and for griping it there till it be dead. The second, 

 for grasping fish in the water, and lifting them out of that 

 element as the bird rises. For the latter purpose, the outer 

 toe, which in the repose of the bird is turned forwards, 

 admits of a reverse motion, so that two toes can act against 

 two, and thus take a better lifting hold of the prey. The 

 feet are also differently feathered, according to the difference 

 of habit in the birds. In the mountain eagle, the feet of 

 which are, from its habit, not much exposed to wet, but 

 have often to endure a temperature far below of the common 

 thermometer, they have the tarsi feathered down to the toes, 

 by which means the powerful machinery by which these 

 are moved is not stiffened by the frosts. The fishing eagle, 

 which is not exposed to so intense cold, but must have the 

 under part of the body frequently immersed in water, has 



