262 BIRDS OP MASSACHUSETTS. 



The Golden Eagle. Falco fulvus, a fierce and angry bird, 

 loves the wildness of desert and mountainous regions, where 

 it neither seeks nor fears the presence of man. As such tracts 

 are not wanting in Massachusetts, it sometimes comes within 

 our bounds ; but it deUghts more in ridges as desolate as the 

 White Mountains of New Hampshire. It is not common any- 

 where, and is hardly ever seen in the more level and cultivated 

 parts of the country. In pace and swiftness of flight it is in- 

 ferior to some other birds, but it exceeds them all in the power 

 of its brilliant eye, which enables it to aim, with unerring 

 precision, at its destined prey. Its flight, if not so rapid as that 

 of other eagles, is exceedingly majestic and graceful, and an- 

 swers to the fine description, 



" Sailing with supreme dominion, 

 Through the azure depths of air." 



The nest of the golden eagle has been found on the Hudson, 

 but never, I believe, within the limits of our state. Per- 

 haps it may be found hereafter on Graylock or some of our 

 western mountains. They build, of course, where they can 

 find abundance of their usual food, such as fawns, young ra- 

 coons, rabbits, and wild turkeys ; but they are indifferent to 

 climate, enduring the utmost severity of winter, and moving 

 with ease and unconcern in the face of the most violent storms. 

 The golden eagle would be the acknowledged head of its 

 family, were it not for the giant discovered by Audubon. The 

 ring tailed eagle of Wilson is now well known to be the young 

 of the present species. 



The Washington Eagle, Falco Washingtonianus, was 

 discovered by Audubon, and happily named by him in honor 

 of the man, who is still the absolute sovereign of all hearts in 

 this country, and will continue to rule over it for ages, by his 

 memory and example. It was known before our great orni- 

 thologist recognised it as a new species, and was supposed to 

 be one of the familiar kinds ; but from the circumstance of 

 its building on a cliff, and procuring its food by diving instead 

 of robbing the fish-hawk, it was obviously different from the 



