538 



6 



the interior in low ranges of rock, the nests being generally easy to get at. The first nest was 

 taken on the Bulgar dagh." Canon Tristram states that it is not uncommon in Palestine. 



In North-east Africa, Von Heuglin says, Aqidla chrysaetus is of rare and irregular occur- 

 rence in the winter in Lower Egypt, Arabia Petraea, and the coast-regions of Tripoli, and 

 probably also in Abyssinia. It is also found in North-western Africa, but- does not range either 

 into Central or Southern Africa. Loche met with it in the three provinces of Algeria, and also 

 in the Sahara. Amongst a large number of examples obtained by him he found several which 

 had partially white scapulars, and which therefore belonged to the variety to which Jaubert 

 (I. c.) gave the name of Aqidla barthelemyi. The female of one pair he procured had partially 

 white scapulars, whereas the male was in the ordinary plumage of the Golden Eagle. Both 

 Mr. O. Salvin and Canon Tristram met with this Eagle in Algeria. The former gentleman 

 writes (Ibis, 1859, p. 180): — "The title of the Golden Eagle to be considered as the King of 

 Birds is fully confirmed in the Atlas. Whatever rock a pair may choose for their eyrie, there 

 they reign alone in dignified solitude, nor do they allow a single Vulture, Kite, or indeed any 

 other species of rapacious bird to occupy with their nest a single spot in the same rock, however 

 eligible for the purpose ; nor are these other species ever to be seen in the haunts of their 

 exclusive majesties. The whole southern precipice at Djebel Dekma was thus tenanted by a 

 single pair of this Eagle, as also several other rocks that came under our notice. The eggs are 

 laid in March, and are for the most part two in number, though in some cases no more than 

 one occurred. The eggs taken in this district are many of them richly marked ; but the spots 

 appear to be more isolated than is observable in many Scotch specimens. Instances of the 

 Golden Eagle building in trees were by no means of unfrequent occurrence. The Arabic name 

 of this bird is ' Ho garb kakala,' or 'Black Eagle.'" Canon Tristram also says (Ibis, 1859, 

 p. 283): — "I never observed this bird in any of the cliffs by the 'Weds' or mountain ranges of 

 the Desert ; but in the Dayats it abounds. It might almost be said to be gregarious, especially 

 in the Dayat of Tirehmet, a day's journey north of Berryan in the Mzab. The wood here 

 extends over many acres ; and I saw no less than seven pairs of Golden Eagles, who had each 

 their nest. There were many other unoccupied nests ; in fact there were few Terebinths of any 

 size without a huge platform of sticks on the topmost boughs. Many of the smaller Dayats 

 were tenanted in like proportions. Any zealous oologist might collect in this region the eggs of 

 fifty nests in a month, could he obtain a sufficient supply of water to enable him to remain ; but 

 the necessity of sending a four clays' journey for water may preserve this colony undisturbed for 

 many years to come. The Gazelles and Sand-Grouse who resort to the Dayats are probably a 

 sufficient supply for the Eagles and Kites who reside here ; and the impossibility of finding other 

 nesting-places may render the Eagles less tenacious of their domains. Being undisturbed, they 

 are very fearless; and I twice walked under a tree and brought down a fine specimen with 

 No. 7 shot." Mr. C. F. Tyrwhitt Drake says that this Eagle breeds at Tetuan; Favier states 

 that it occurs on passage near Tangier, passing north in January and February and returning in 

 July and August, some few remaining to breed; and Dr. C. Bolle records it from Southern 

 Morocco. 



In Asia the Golden Eagle is found as far east as China, and as far south as the Himalayas. 

 Dr. Severtzoff, who met with it iu Turkestan, is inclined to divide this species into two sub- 



