IO cassell's book of birds. 



ness, on these are placed smaller branches, and the interior is then padded with twigs upon which 

 the leaves have been left, in order to form a warm bed. These nests are usually constructed upon a 

 tree, or upon some rocky precipice. The breeding season varies according to the climate ; the eggs 

 often but one, rarely three in number, are incubated by the female alone. Both parents, however, 

 assist in rearing their progeny, and have been known to fly to a distance of many miles in search of 

 food for their hungry family. The nestlings are tended for some time after they are fully fledged. 



Foremost among the Eagles three species stand pre-eminent, and have been celebrated and 

 dreaded from the most ancient times. These form the group of TRUE EAGLES, and are 

 recognisable by their powerful bodies, large and well-shaped heads, and broad long wings, which 

 reach to the end of the tail ; in the wings the fourth quill is longer than the rest ; the tail is long, and 

 the legs strong and of moderate height ; the beak is large, the upper mandible curves very decidedly 

 from the cere downwards, and bulges outwards at its sides ; the eyes, which are of great size, lie 

 partly concealed under the projecting brows; the feet are powerful and of moderate length, the claws 

 large, curved, and sharp. The plumage is rich and soft, and its feathers pointed, those at the back 

 of the head and on the nape being slender and elongated ; the tarsi are feathered down to the toes. 



Thus far we have described collectively the three species forming the family of True Eagles ; 



but, to avoid confusion, we will now speak of the Tawny, the Golden, and the Imperial Eagles, each 



under its proper heading. 



THE TAWNY EAGLE. 



The Tawny Eagle (Aqui/a fulva), the largest, strongest, and most compactly built member of 

 the family, is from two and three-quarters to three feet in length, and from six and two-thirds to seven 

 feet in breadth ; the wing measures from one foot two inches to two feet, and the tail thirteen or 

 fourteen inches. The largest of these measurements applies to the female bird. When the plumage 

 is in its full beauty, the head and back of the neck are brownish yellow, and the rest of the feathers of 

 a uniform dark brown ; the tail is white, striped, or spotted with black at its upper portion, the lower 

 half entirely black ; the hose are almost white. Naumann tells that only the two centre tail-feathers 

 are of equal length, those towards the sides being slightly graduated. 



THE GOLDEN EAGLE. 

 The Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is much more slenderly built and has a smaller head 

 than the bird above described, but the wings and tail are longer, and the former do not extend as 

 far as the extremity of the tail. The male is three feet long and seven feet and a quarter across the 

 span of the wings ; the wing measures two feet four inches and the tail thirteen inches ; the female 

 is three feet two inches in length, and seven feet and a half across. The plumage is lighter than 

 that of the Tawny Eagle, and more of a reddish brown upon the breast, hose, and lower tail-covers ; 

 the region of the shoulder is indicated by a white spot ; the tail is always brownish grey, marked 

 with irregular crooked black lines, and the black stripes are narrower than in the preceding species. 

 All the feathers that compose the tail are of equal length, except the two outer ones, which are 

 somewhat shortened ; the lower part of the wing is always very dark, and often entirely without 

 markings. The plumage of the young is darker, and without the white patch in the shoulder, and 

 the reddish-brown feathers on the back of the head and neck, that characterise the adult bird. 



THE IMPERIAL EAGLE. 

 The Imperial Eagle {Aquila imperialis) is considerably smaller than the preceding, not 

 exceeding two feet and a half to two feet and three-quarters in length ; its breadth across the wings is 



