THE GOLDEN EAGLE. 587 



THE GOLDEN EAGLE. 



Among the earliest reminiscences of my ornithological 

 studies, are the screanis and screeches of a very fine speci- 

 men of the Golden Eagle {Aquila chrysaetus), kept in a 

 large cage out of doors by a young scientific amateur in 

 my neighborhood. It had been taken from the nest when 

 quite young, I think, and reared in confinement. It was a 

 grand pet, and, in its solitary gambols and sports about 

 the cage, was a very interesting study. 



The average length of the female of this species is given 

 as 57.45, and the stretch as 85.00. Average length of male, 

 32.50; stretch, 83.00. General color, dark-brown, tinged 

 with purplish; wings, tail and under parts, darker; head, 

 neck, shoulders, tibia and tarsus, lighter, and tipped and 

 edged with yellowish or golden-brown, thus giving some 

 propriety at least to the common name. The base of the 

 tail is white. The young are similar, but lighter in all re- 

 spects, and, with about two-thirds of the tail at base, white. 

 In the intermediate stages the tail may be white and brown 

 mottled. The young, with the white tail deeply banded 

 with dark brown, is the Ring-tailed Eagle of the earliest 

 ornithologists. This species may always be distinguished 

 by its tarsus feathered to the toes. 



Grand as our Common or White-headed Eagle is con- 

 ceded to be, he is but a commonplace and vulgar bird 

 compared with the present species. Indeed, the Golden 

 Eagle is the noblest bird of our continent. Disdaining car- 

 rion, except in extreme hunger, and all ordinary pilfering 

 and predatory habits, he subsists, it would seem, on the 

 noblest game, such as hares, grouse, young fawns and 

 wild turkeys. Nor does he condescend to chase his prey, 

 and capture it only after a hot pursuit, after the manner of 

 Hawks and Falcons, but, detecting it afar with his keen eye, 



