14 FALCONIDA. 
the arctic regions, particularly in the latter, breeding on 
high precipitous rocks, always preferrmg a mountainous 
country. Dr. Richardson considers that this bird is sel- 
dom seen in North America far to the eastward of the 
Rocky Mountains. Mr. Audubon saw one on the coast 
of Labrador, besides others in various parts of the United 
States of America. 
The Golden Eagle inhabits Iceland, Scandinavia, Rus- 
sia, and Germany. In France, according to M. Tem- 
minck, it is not uncommon in the forests of Fontainebleau, 
and it breeds in the Alps and Pyrenees. A range still 
farther to the southward and eastward is now ascertained. 
The representative of the British Government at Tangiers, 
included this species in a catalogue of the birds of that 
country sent to the Zoological Society. It is found in 
Sicily, in Asia Minor, and several parts of India. 
The flight of the Golden Eagle is described by those 
who have witnessed it as majestic and powerful in the 
extreme ; and from the great strength of the bird, it preys 
with ease on fawns, lambs, hares, and other game, very 
seldom feeding on fish or carrion, and rarely on anything 
which it finds dead. Montagu relates, that “‘ when sport- 
ing in the neighbourhood of Ben-Lomond, on the summit 
of the lesser mountains that form its base, a Red Grouse 
was wounded, and flew with difficulty eighty or a hundred 
paces. An Eagle, apparently of this species, perceiving 
the laborious flight of the Grouse, descended with rapid 
wing from the adjacent lofty cliffs before our guns were 
reloaded, and, in defiance of the shouts made to deter 
him, carried off his prey.” In another part of the West- 
ern Highlands of Scotland, Montagu “ had an opportunity 
of witnessing the powers of the flight of this bird in pur- 
suit of its quarry. An old Black Cock was sprung, and 
