NATURAL HISTORY. 



Family IV. ... Falconidse. 



Sub-family a. . Aquilince. 



AQUILA. (Lat. an Eagle.} 



Chrysaetos (Gr. XpvaaieToc, Golden Eagle), the Golden Eagle. 



fourth primary feather being the longest. The feet of the 

 genus Aquila are feathered to the toes. 



The Golden Eagle is found in most parts of Europe, and is 

 not uncommon in Great Britain, especially in the mountainous 

 parts of Scotland and the Hebrides. The flight of this mag- 

 nificent bird is peculiarly beautiful and imposing, but its gait 

 when on land is rather awkward, for its long talons encumber 

 it in the same manner that the sloth is prevented from rapid 

 locomotion by its curved claws. 



Its food is usually sea birds and the smaller quadrupeds, 

 such as hares, rabbits, &c., but it does not hesitate to carry 

 off young lambs, or sometimes to destroy a sickly sheep. 



