118 THE BIRDS 
HYPOTHETICAL. 
GENUS AQUILA. 
[349]. Aquila chrysaétos (Linneus). Golden Eagle. 
Rancr.—Northern part of Northern Hemisphere. In 
the Old World south to North Africa and the Himalaya ; 
in North America from northern Alaska, northwestern 
Mackenzie, central Keewatin, and northern Ungava south 
to middle Lower California, central Mexico, western 
Texas, South Dakota, Manitoba, southern Keewatin, cen- 
tral Ontario, New Hampshire, Maine, and Nova Scotia, 
and in the Alleghenies to southwestern North Carolina; 
less common east of the Mississippi. 
This noble bird seems to be more common with us in 
the winter than during the summer season. They have 
been reported as breeding in our higher mountains, though 
Professor Smyth only reports them as an “irregular fall 
and winter migrant, nine specimens in all, mostly taken 
during November, December and February.” They are 
even less common than this in the Tidewater section. 
Many persons confuse the young of the Bald Eagle for this 
fine bird, on account of the immature Bald Eagle not hav- 
ing the white head and tail, which plumage is not reached 
until the third year. One can, though, readily distinguish 
these two birds from each other, the Golden Eagle having 
the feathers on the tarsus or lower leg, all the way down 
to the feet, while those of the Bald Eagle stop at the upper 
joint. Unless hard pressed for food, they will not take 
carrion or fish, so well liked by the Bald Eagle, preferring 
