874 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



EARED VULTURE 



GOLDEN EAGLE 



the eastern United States it is not common, but 

 it is numerous among the mountains of the West, 

 where its nest is built on well secluded ledges. 



In Europe and northern Asia, the Golden 

 Eagle is widely distributed. This is thought to 

 be the bird used by the Tartars in hunting. The 

 birds are trained as were the falcons of Europe, 

 to pursue and capture game for the benefit of 

 their masters. The eagle is generally carried 

 by a horseman and is kept hooded until game 

 is sighted, when the hood is removed and the 

 leash slipped. The bird at once mounts into 

 the air. and. spying the fleeing creature, dashes 

 off in pursuit, the sportsman following the chase 

 on foot or horseback. The animals most fre- 

 quently flown at with Golden Eagles are ante- 

 lopes and sometimes wolves, with which the bird 

 is well able to cope. Pallas states that the value 

 among the Tartars of a well trained bird of this 

 species is equal to that of two camels. 



The Indian Crested Eagle {Spisaetus nipalen- 

 sis) is represented in the collection by an im- 

 mature specimen, for which the adjective, crested, 

 seems somewhat misleading, as this portion of 

 the plumage is very slightly developed in the 

 young. The crown and nape feathers of the 

 adult, however, reach a length of three or four 

 inches and add greatly to the appearance of the 

 bird. This eagle is of somewhat smaller size 

 than the golden, and like it. has the tarsi 

 feathered. It is clad in black, white and sober 

 browns. It breeds throughout the Himalayas 

 and in China and Japan, descending to the 

 warmer plains of India to pass the winter. A 

 bird of the forests, it is seldom seen above the 

 trees and very rarely soars, preferring to lie in 

 wait in some leafy retreat for the hares, part- 



ridges and junglefowl which form its prey. The 

 nest is a bulky structure, generally placed in a 

 tall tree, and lined with green leaves; a single 

 egg being laid. 



So much has been written concerning the Bald 

 Eagle (Haliaetus leucoephalus leucocephalus) , 

 our national emblem, that only repetitions are 

 possible in the scope of this article. This is a 

 bird of the air. frequently seen at great alti- 

 tudes, as it describes graceful circles in keeping 

 watch over its especial territory. It is swift 

 and powerful on the wing, and undoubtedly 

 takes a certain portion of its food by this means. 

 Its principal diet, however, is composed of fish, 

 for which it is mainly dependent upon those 

 east up along the shore, although it sometimes 

 assumes the role of fisherman. It is well known, 

 also, that the Bald Eagle is not above robbing 

 the osprey of its prey. 



The shrill scream of the Bald Eagle is very 

 characteristic and is a familiar note in those 

 localities in which it is of regular occurrence. 

 The voice of the male is said to be distinguished 

 from that of its mate in being more clear and 

 unbroken. 



As is usual among Accipitrine birds, this eagle 

 builds its nest in a lofty position, the top of a 

 tall tree by choice, and two or three dull white 

 eggs are laid. The young spend several months 

 in the nest, during which period they are fed 

 constantly by their parents. 



The northwestern form of the Bald Eagle is 

 a much larger bird and has been separated from 

 the type as Haliaetus leucocephalus alascanus. 

 This subspecies is found in Alaska. Mackenzie, 

 Kiewaten and Ungava, south to British Columbia 

 and the Great Lakes. 



