304 ZOOLOGY. 



add, for some imaginary qualities which modern science has failed to demon- 

 strate, but of which we will omit further notice, having, as the great Wilson 

 observes of himself respecting the subject, "no ambition to excite surprise 

 and astonishment at the expense of truth, or to attempt to elevate and em- 

 bellish the subject beyond the plain realities of nature." Whoever wishes to 

 find the subject treated in a very beautiful, but quite imaginative manner, 

 can do so by referring to Buffon or Goldsmith's account of the golden 

 eagle. 



The habits of the golden eagle appear to be precisely those of the other 

 large birds of prey ; it generally captures living animals, but does not reject 

 dead or even putrid bodies, though the reverse is distinctly asserted by the 

 older writers. It builds in the recesses of mountains, laying two or three 

 eggs. In America it is frequently met with, though most common on the 

 western side of the continent. Its feathers are in much request among the 

 Indian tribes as decorations, especially of the pipe of peace and other objects 

 of their respect. 



Of the typical eagles, which are characterized by densely feathered tarsi, 

 there are several other species. The great black African eagle {Aquila ver- 

 reaiixii) deserves especial mention ; he is larger than the golden eagle, and 

 clothed in perfectly black plumage, except a space upon his back which is 

 pure white. He would make a fine figure upon the coat of arms of an African 

 republic. His habits have not been recorded. 



The wedge-tailed eagle {A. fucosa, Cuv.) is another large species, in- 

 habiting Australia, and remarkable for a peculiar shaped tail, the central 

 feathers being longest. There are also other species found principally in 

 Europe and the adjacent continents, such as the spotted eagle {A. ticevia), the 

 imperial eagle {A. impei'ialis), the little eagle {A. pennata), and several 

 others. 



The fishing eagles, genus Haliaetus, consist of several species which are 

 found in various parts of the world. In this genus is the great sea eagle of 

 the north of Asia and America, H. pelagiais, Avhich is the largest of its tribe. 

 Little is known of its habits. Here too is classed the bald, or American eagle, 

 which has had the good fortune to be immortalized as the emblem of our 

 country. He lives principally in the neighborhood of rivers and upon the 

 sea-coast, feeding mainly upon fish, which he does not hesitate to take by vio- 

 lence from more expert fishers, such as the osprey. This handsome bird does 

 not attain his perfect plumage for several years, being in early stages entirely 

 deep brown, Avithout a vestige of the beautiful white head and tail which adorn 

 the adult. 



A large species has been described by Audubon as the Washington eagle 

 {H. wasliingtoni), which, however, appears to be exceedingly rare, and much 

 resembles the young of the common species. 



The European sea eagle {H. alhicilla) is a well known species, much resem- 

 bling in general characters its American relative. It breeds in ledges of the 

 elevated rocks upon the sea-coast, and is frequently a fine feature in the wild 

 landscape of those localities. 



There are several African species of the fishers, the most remarkable of 

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