EAGLES. 27 



E AG LE S 



Next in order to the vultures, are placed the splendid birds which are so familiar to 

 us under the general title of Eagles, and which form the lirst group of the great family 

 Falconidse, which includes the Eagles, falcons, and hawks. In common with the VulturidjB, 

 the whole of the Falcouidae are diurnal birds, and are therefore classed into one laig-e order, 

 termed Accipitres Uiurni. All the Falconida3 possess powerful hooked beaks, not running 

 straiglit for some distance, and then suddenly curved, as in the vultures, but nearly always 

 bent in a curve from the very base. The head and neck are covered with plumage, and above 

 the eyes the feathers are so thick and projecting, that they form a kind of roof or shade, under 

 which the eye is situated and effectually sheltered from the bright rays of the noontide sun. 

 There is often a tooth-like projection in the upper mandible, and the nostrils are placed within 

 the cere. The females are always larger and more powerful than their mates, and the color of 

 both sexes is ^•ery variable, according to the age of the individual. 



The preceding characteristics are common to the entire family of Falconidse, and the true 

 Eagles may be distinguished by the following additional particulars : The beak is remarkably 

 powerful, and for a sliort distance from the base is nearly straiglit ; when the mouth is open, 

 the edges of the upper mandible are seen to be slightly wavy, something like the cut edges 

 of an indenture. The tail is of no very great length, but strong and rigid, and the legs are 

 feathered down to the toes. Upwards of forty species have been placed in this genus ; but as 

 many of them present characteristics which admit of a further subdivision, they have been 

 grouped together in certain sub-genera, for the purpose of attaining greater perspicuity. 



The whole of the Falconidje are eminently destructive birds, gaining their subsistence 

 chiefly by the chase, seldom feeding on carrion except when pressed by hunger, or when the 

 dead animal has only recently been killed. Herein they form a complete contrast to the y\\\- 

 tures, whose usual food is putrifying carrion, and fresh meat the exception. Destructive 

 tliough they may be, they are by no means cruel, neitlier do they inflict needless pain on the 

 object of tlieir pursuit. Like the lion and other carnivorous animals, they certainly carry out 

 the great principle for which they were made, and which has already been mentioned in 

 Volume I. They are not cruel birds, for although they deprive many birds and beasts of life, 

 they effect their purpose with a single blow, sweeping down upon the doomed creature with 

 such lightning velocity, and striking it so fiercely with the death-dealing talons, that in the 

 generality of instances the victim must be absolutely unconscious even of danger, and be sud- 

 denly killed wliile busily engaged in its ordinary pursuits, without suffeiing the terrors of 

 anticipation, or even a single pang of bodily pain. There certainly are some instances where 

 an animal, sucli as a lamb, has been carried while still living to the Eagle's nest, and there 

 slaughtered. But we must not judge the feelings of such a victim by our own, for the lamb 

 can form no conception of the purpose for which it is conveyed through tlie air, and doubt- 

 lessly feels nothing Ijiit astonishment at the strange journey which it is making. 



When the Eagle perceives a bird on the wing, the mere shock caused by the stroke of the 

 Eagle's body is almost invariably sufficient to cause death, and the bird, should it be a large 

 one, such as a swan, for example, falls dead upon the earth without even a wound. Smaller 

 birds are carried off in the talons of their pursuers, and are killed by the grip of their tremen- 

 dous claws, the Eagle in no case making use of its beak for the purpose of killing its prey. 

 If the bird carries off a lamb or a hare, it grasps the body firmly with its claws, and then by a 

 sudden exertion of its wonderful strength, drives the sharj) talons deep into the vitals of 

 its prey, and does not loosen its grasp until the breath of life has fled and all movement has 

 ceased. 



The sti'ucture by means of which the Eagle is enabled to use its talons with such terrible 

 effect is equally beautiful and simple, and as it is closely connected with many of the habits of 

 birds, deserves separate mention. 



Many observant persons have been struck with the curious fact, that a bird can hold its 



