540 



8 



river. In Arctic North America it is but rare ; but it was found in Oregon by Dr. Townsend ; 

 and, according to Dr. Cooper it is quite common in California during the colder months. It was 

 also obtained among the mountains of New Mexico by Dr. Henry's party. 



The American Golden Eagle has by many authors been separated from the European bird ; 

 but I cannot believe that there is any just ground for specific separation. As a rule, adult 

 American birds are somewhat darker than the Old-World Golden Eagle; and in the immature 

 American bird the tarsal feathers are brown, whereas in young European examples these are 

 white; but Mr. J. H. Gurney points out (Ibis, 1877, p. 212) that this is not invariably the case, 

 as he cites two instances of young American Golden Eagles having white tarsi, and he examined 

 five Old-World birds, all of which had brown tarsi. 



This, our largest and most powerful bird of prey in Great Britain, though on the whole 



gradually decreasing rather than increasing in numbers, is still frequently to be seen in most of 



the larger Highland glens and the more rugged and mountainous portions of Scotland. Owing 



to the protection afforded to this bird in several of the larger deer-forests in the Highlands, it is 



likely to be for some time to come, at least, a bird that one may with tolerable certainty be 



sure of meeting with ; and I know of a considerable number of eyries that are still regularly 



tenanted by it. Unfortunately its eggs are so much sought after by collectors that many of 



these eyries are systematically robbed, and hence there are many difficulties in the way of an 



increase in the numbers of this species. Though a noble, independent, and powerful bird, the 



Golden Eagle is cruel and ferocious, and by no means so brave as he has been described ; for he 



is keen enough to avoid danger and will often suffer himself to be driven away by a much weaker 



and less powerful bird. Although this Eagle is frequently seen soaring in circles at great 



altitudes, yet, when in search of prey, it usually flies low, often at not many yards from the 



ground, which it quarters carefully. Sometimes a pair may be seen hunting in company ; but 



as a rule it appears to follow the chase solitarily. It flies with ease and grace, propelling 



itself with regular flaps of the wings and alternate sailings, now and again wheeling in circles, 



and usually moving in silence. It preys on hares, rabbits, lambs, fawns, grouse, birds of various 



sorts, moles, rats, mice, &c. ; and when impelled by hunger it does not disdain carrion, any more 



than its ally the Imperial Eagle does. During the lambing-season it commits considerable havoc 



amongst the young lambs, and will carry off bodily a lamb several weeks old. It is especially 



fond of hares, and will hunt them down most systematically. In Finland I have known it follow 



a hare, driving it out of the patches of brushwood in which the unfortunate animal seeks to take 



refuge, by slashing the bushes with its powerful wings ; and directly the hare dodges out into 



the open the Eagle strikes at, until at last he wearies and catches it. Occasionally two Eagles 



are said to hunt in company, the one driving the quarry out of cover, whilst the other remains 



outside to pounce on it. The cry of the Golden Eagle is a loud yelp, uttered several times 



in succession, not unlike the call-note of the Buzzard, but much clearer and louder. 



This Eagle selects for the site of it's eyry a rock, usually one tolerably well clothed with 

 vegetation ; and the nest is frequently near the top, in some portion of the rock which is difficult 

 of access; but I have known of more than one placed where they were accessible to a good 

 climber without the assistance of a rope. The nest is repaired and frequently added to every 

 year. But the same nest is not used every season ; for the Eagles have usually several favourite 



