THE GOLDEN EAGLE. 201 
extremity of the beak to that of the tail. His general 
colour is blackish brown both above and below, assum- 
ing on the legs a grayish or sometimes a reddish tinge. 
His beak is bluish black, covered at the base by a yellow 
cere; and his toes, which are also yellow, terminate in 
strong black talons, the posterior one of which frequently 
attains an enormous length. He is met with throughout 
the Old Continent, and more especially within the limits 
of the temperate zone, building his aiery, which he 
shares with a single female, in the clefts of the loftiest 
rock, or among the topmost branches of the alpine forest. 
From this retreat he towers aloft in search of his prey, 
which he pursues by sight alone, subsisting principally 
on other birds and on the smaller quadrupeds, which he 
carries off in his powerful clutch. When his hunger is 
extreme he sometimes pounces upon the larger animals ; 
but in such circumstances he is compelled to content 
himself with sucking their blood upon the spot, and 
with stripping off portions of their flesh, on which to 
satiate his appetite at home. Instances have been known 
of his attaining in captivity to an age of more than a 
hundred years. 
The principal distinguishing mark of the group which 
has been separated under the name of the Sea-Kagles, 
consists in the plumage of the tarsus, which in the latter 
extends only half way down, the lower part being conse- 
quently left entirely bare. The species figured on the 
left, at the head of this article, is commonly more than 
three feet in length, and the expansion of his wings 
measures seven or eight feet. His bill is usually of a 
bluish black colour towards the extremity, and yellow 
at the base. His general hue is blackish brown, deeper 
