ORDER ACCIPITRES. 225 



Professor Reisner, of Germany, has published a pamphlet, 

 the object of which is to prove that eagles may be employed to 

 direct a balloon. He states the number of these birds, which 

 he deems necessary, according to the dimensions of the ma- 

 chine, and gives the mode of training, harnessing, and guiding 

 them. 



The Great Eagle (Aquila Chrysaetos) also called the royal 

 and golden eagle, is not confined, as BufFon imagined, to warm 

 and temperate climates, but is also found in colder regions. 

 He lives solitarily in the mountainous regions of Europe, as in 

 the Pyrenees, the mountains of Silesia, Ireland, &c. ; also in 

 Tartary and the various parts of Asia, in Western Russia, 

 Kamtschatka, and Siberia. It is also met with in Barbary, 

 but apparently only in the chain of Mount Atlas, for it is by no 

 means certain that the eagles seen in Africa generally, by 

 many travellers, belong to this species. It does not exist in 

 North America, where the common eagle is found. 



This bird appeared so redoubtable to the ancient poets, from 

 his bold glance, proud air, the elevation of his flight, and the 

 strength of his limbs, that they consecrated him to Jupiter, and 

 deposited the thunderbolt in his talons. He was termed the 

 celestial bird, and the augurs esteemed him as the messenger 

 of the gods. The Persians and Romans adopted the eagle as 

 their standard of war. Modern potentates have followed their 

 example, and we have ourselves beheld the greater part of 

 Europe tremble at the elevation of this imperial standard. 

 This bird has also been considered the emblem of genius, it 

 is this species which may particularly be compared to the lion 

 as to physical and moral analogies. Full of the consciousness 

 of his strength, the eagle disdains the smaller animals, and de- 

 spises their insults. He desires nothing but by the right of 

 conquest, and will have no prey but what he takes himself. 

 His temperance is extreme, and he scarcely ever finishes the 

 entire of his game. He leaves the fragments to other animals, 

 and though ever so hungry, will never touch a dead carcass. 



