THE GOLDEN EAGLE. 



THE GOLDEN EAGLE. 



The Golden Eagle is a large bird, weighing twelve or fourteen 



pounds ; measuring in 

 length three feet, and 

 from tip to tip of his 



wings seven feet and 

 a half. The bill ia 

 deep blue, and the 

 cere yellow. The 

 head and neck are of 

 a dark brown, bor- 

 dered with tawny: 

 the hind part o f 

 the head is of a 

 bright rust-color, 

 and the rest of the 

 body brown.. The 

 tail is blotched with 

 ash-color. The legs 

 are yellow, and 

 feathered to the toes, 

 which are scaly : the 

 claws are remarka- 

 bly large, the middle 

 one being two inches 

 in length. 



This bird is a 

 native of Europe, 

 and even of some of 

 the more mountain- 

 ous parts of Great 

 Britain. 



This Eagle has generally been considered by mankind, tjo hold the 

 fabulous or imaginary dominion over the birds, which has been 

 attributed to the Lion over quadrupeds. M. de Buffon, adopting the 

 idea, is also of opinion, that the Eagle and the Lion have many points 

 of resemblance, both physical and moral. " Magnanimity (he says) is 

 equally conspicuous in both; they despise the small animals, and dis- 

 regard their insults. It is only after a series of provocations, alter 

 being teased with the noisy or harsh notes of the Eaven or Magpie, 

 that the Eagle determines to punish the temerity or the insolence of 

 these birds with death. Besides, both disdain the possession of that 

 property which is not the fruit of their own industry; rejecting with 

 contempt the prey which is not procured by their own exertions, 

 Both are remarkable for their temperance. This species seldom de- 

 vours the whole of his game, but, like the Lion, leaves the fragments 



80LDEN EAGLE. 



