66 BIRDS OF THE WORLD 



neighbouring portions of the United States, Alaska 

 and the Behring Sea. It is particularly striking in 

 appearance, having an enormous yellow bill, bright 

 yellow feet, and rich dark brown plumage with cer- 

 tain of the wing-feathers snow-white. The tail is also 

 pure white. The sight of one of these grand birds 

 flying over the deep blue water of the ocean must be 

 most inspiring. Owing to the inaccessibility of the 

 region in which it is found, the life-history of this bird 

 is comparatively little known, although it is safe to 

 presume that in habits it resembles Eagles in general. 

 One of the most extraordinary of the Eagles, in- 

 deed of all Birds of Prey, is the great Harpy Eagle 

 of South America, which inhabits, as a rule, the forests 

 of the Amazon, although its range extends into 

 Mexico and through Central America. The Harpy 

 Eagle is short- winged and does not soar into the air 

 to such a height as some of the other Eagles, though 

 its power of flight is considerable. The primary 

 feathers of the wing do not extend below the second- 

 aries, so that when the wings are folded we do not 

 see the sharp projecting points of the long wing- 

 feathers extending across the tail, as in the Bald and 

 Golden Eagles. In colour the adult is a deep bluish- 

 green on the back and pure white on the breast. The 

 head is a delicate pearl-grey, and the neck is almost 

 surrounded by a greenish band, the same colour as the 

 back. The thighs are white, with small spots and 

 lines of black upon them, and the under side of the 

 wings is coloured in the same way, being pure white 

 with numerous fine lines. The under side of the long 

 tail is also white, but is banded by broad black marks. 



