12 



CASSELL'S BOOK OF BIRDS. 



of "castings." When hair or feathers are not obtainable they will swallow hay or straw, apparently for 

 a like purpose. The eyrie is built about the month of March. The eggs, which are comparatively 

 small, are round, rough-shelled, white or greenish grey, and irregularly marked with spots of various 

 shapes and sizes ; those of the Tawny Eagle are the largest, and those of the Golden Eagle the 

 smallest eggs of the three ; in other respects they so closely resemble each other that the eyries 

 are frequently mistaken. The eggs are sometimes three in number, but it is rare to find more 

 than one, or at any rate two nestlings. The female broods for five weeks, and is assisted by her mate 



THE GOLDEN eagle (Aquila chrysqStos). 



in the heavy duty of providing food for the family. If taken from the nest young, Eagles may be easily 

 tamed, and become much attached to those who feed them ; if carefully tended they often attain 

 a great age, and instances are on record of their having lived for upwards of a century in con- 

 finement. 



We learn from Pallas and Eversmann that the Tawny and Golden Eagles are extensively employed 

 by the Bashkirs for hunting purposes. The inhabitants of Mongolia set a high value upon the wing 

 and tail feathers of these birds, offering them to their gods, and also employing them to feather 

 their arrows ; they never willingly hurt an Eagle, and should such an accident occur, it is despatched 



