GOLDEN EAGLE. 467 



ing grounds. A pair of these birds bred on the rocky shores of the Hud- 

 son for eight successive years, and in the same chasm of the rock. 



Their notes are harsh and sharp, resembling at times the barking of 

 a dog, especially about the breeding season, when they become extremely 

 noisy and turbulent, flying more swiftly than at other times, alighting- 

 more frequently, and evincing a fretfulness which is not so observable 

 after their e^gs are laid. 



They are capable of remaining without food for several days at a time, 

 and eat voraciously whenever they find an opportunity. Young fawns, 

 racoons, hares, wild turkeys, and other large birds, are their usual food, 

 and they devour putrid flesh only when hard pressed by hunger, none 

 alighting on carrion at any other time. They are nice in cleaning the 

 skin or plucking the feathers of their prey, although they swallow their 

 food in large pieces, often mixed with hair and bones, which they after- 

 wards disgorge. They are muscular, strong, and hardy, capable of bear- 

 ing extreme cold without injury, and of pursuing their avocations in the 

 most tempestuous weather. A full grown female weighs about twelve 

 pounds, the male about two pounds and a half less. This species seldom 

 removes far from its place of residence, and the attachment of two indi- 

 viduals of difi^erent sexes appears to continue for years. 



They do not obtain the full beauty of their plumage until the fourth 

 year, the Ring-tailed Eagle of authors being the young in the dress of 

 the second and third years. Our north-western Indians are fond of or- 

 namenting their persons and implements of war with the tail-feathers of 

 this Eagle, which they kill or raise expressly for that purpose. 



I conclude my account of this species with an anecdote relating to it 

 given in one of Dr Rushes lectures upon the effects of fear on man. During 

 the revolutionary war, a company of soldiers were stationed near the high- 

 lands of the Hudson River. A Golden Eagle had placed her nest in a 

 cleft of the rocks half way between the summit and the river. A soldier 

 was let down by his companions suspended by a rope fastened around his 

 body. When he reached the nest, he suddenly found himself attacked 

 by the Eagle; in self defence he drew the only weapon about him, 

 his knife, and made repeated passes at the bird, when accidentally he 

 cut the rope almost off. It began unravelling; those above hastily 

 drew him up, and relieved him from his perilous situation at the mo- 

 ment when he expected to be precipitated to the bottom. The Doctor 

 stated that so powerful was the effect of the fear the soldier liad experi- 



G 0-2 



