BIRDS OF PREY. g 



talons. The wings of some species reach as far as the end of the tail, in others no farther than its 

 root ; in all they are rounded at the tip, the fourth and fifth quills being longer than the rest ; the tail 

 is long, broad, and either rounded or straight at its extremity. The plumage consists of large and 

 usually pointed feathers, rich in texture, often very soft, but occasionally coarse and harsh. One of the 

 distinguishing features in the plumage of the Eagle is that the feathers on the back of the head and 

 nape are either pointed or considerably prolonged. The eye is large and fiery, and the eyebrows very 

 distinctly marked, thus giving an expression of fierceness to the face. 



A glance at different members of the Eagle tribe will at once convince us that they do not all 

 belong to the same country or climate. It is true that they are dispersed over the surface of the whole 

 earth, but each species has its appointed district ; all, however, avoid the abodes of man, and make 

 their nests in some unfrequented spot. Mountains, forests, sea-coasts, or the banks of lakes or rivers 

 have each their appointed forms, while some species roam at large over the open plains of the countries 

 in which they live. Such members of the family as inhabit the more northern portions of the globe 

 migrate as winter approaches, and pass their lives in sweeping from land to land, except at such times 

 as they are busied with the cares of incubation. In their habits all are unsocial, keeping company 

 rarely even with individuals of their own race, except during their winter journeyings, and suffering 

 no intruder to approach the spot selected as a breeding-place ; so strong is this dislike to society 

 that even when several Eagles are attracted by the same prey the companionship is merely in appear- 

 ance, each bird coming and going without any reference to the movements of the rest. Notwith- 

 standing this unwillingness to join company with others, even of their own species, they are much 

 attached to their mates, each pair living in close companionship throughout their whole lives, and 

 frequently permitting smaller birds to make their nests in close proximity, either regarding them as 

 entirely beneath their notice, or, perhaps, feeling that such despicable morsels are not worth the long 

 and troublesome chase which their pursuit would necessitate. To some members of the Eagle 

 family the name of Hawk Eagles has been assigned, on account of their very decided resemblance 

 to the Hawk, not merely in appearance, but in disposition. 



Though unable to cleave the air with the rapidity of the Falcon, the flight of an Eagle is 

 extremely imposing, as it rises with slow and majestic strokes of its large wings, steering its course by 

 the aid of its tail, or hovers for minutes at a time without any apparent effort ; when descending to 

 seize its prey its movements are somewhat more rapid, but are not to be compared with the stoop 

 of the Hawk. While upon the ground nothing can be more clumsy than the mode of progression 

 employed by these large birds; they hop, or rather jump, with a most peculiar step, at the same time 

 helping themselves along with their wings ; far different is their appearance when they are seen 

 perched with body erect upon some tree, from whence they gaze upon the world beneath with a calm 

 dignity worthy of the royalty not unfrequently assigned to them. The sight of the Eagle is more 

 highly developed than any other sense ; it also hears well, and exhibits a marked dislike to any sharp 

 sound. Many wonderful tales have been circulated as to the power of appreciating odours possessed 

 by these birds, but for our own part we consider these accounts as much exaggerated. All the members 

 of the family are intelligent, prudent, in some cases cunning, and they have such an appreciation 

 of their own strength as to impart an air of nobility to their demeanour even towards man himself. 

 When in pursuit, Eagles exhibit great fierceness, and seem to enjoy the full excitement of the chase ; 

 even such large quadrupeds as foxes fall victims to their ferocity, and the swiftest inhabitants of the 

 air are not safe from their pursuit ; instances are on record in which man himself has had to combat 

 the attacks of these bold and audacious birds. 



The eyries built by the various species of Eagles differ but little in appearance ; all are exceed- 

 ingly large, broad, and very shallow. They are formed of boughs, sometimes of considerable thick- 

 VOL. II. — 41 



