THE BOLD EAGLE. 



31 



The Imperial Eagle is seldom seen sweeping over the plains, as it is a forest-loving bird, 

 preferring the densest woods to the open country. As far as is known, it never builds its nest 

 on the rocks, but always chooses a spreading and lofty tree for that purpose. In habits 

 it resembles the preceding species, and in disposition is tierce and destructive. No specimen 

 of this bird has yet been taken in England, although it is not at all uncommon in the warmer 

 parts of Europe. 



Australia possesses a tine example of the aquiline birds in the Bold Eagle, so called 

 from the extreme audacity which it displayed on first coming in contact with mankind. 



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1 1#32 





IMPERIAL EAGLE,— Aqutta mogilnik. 



This handsome bird is found in the whole of Southern Australia and Van Diemen's Land, 

 but Mr. Gould believes that it does not inhabit the intertropical regions. The color of the 

 Bold Eagle is a blackish-brown, becoming paler on the edges of the wings. The back of the 

 neck takes a decided reddish hue, which forms a very conspicuous charcteristic in the coloring 

 of the plumage. When young, the edge of each feather is tinged with red, and the tail is 

 slightly barred. The eyes of this bird are hazel, and the beak is yellowish except at the tip, 

 which is black. 



The food of this bird consists naturally of kangaroos, bustards, and other beasts and birds 

 of its own country. Since sheep have been so plentifully bred in Australia, the Bold Eagle 

 has derived considerable advantage from the enterprise of the agriculturists, and has become a 

 perfect pest to the shepherds, from its fondness for mutton. In consequence of its marauding- 

 propensities, it is hunted and persecuted in every way by the colonists, but without much 

 apparent result, as the bird is only driven farther inland, and seems in a fair way to hold its 



