THE GOLDEN EAGLE. 51 



Their notes are harsh and sharp, resembling at times the barking of a clog, 

 especially about the breeding season, when they become extremely noisy and 

 turbulent, flying more swiftly than at other times, alighting more frequently, 

 and evincing a fretfulness which is not so observable after their eggs are laid. 



They are capable of remaining without food for several days at a time, and 

 eat voraciously whenever they find an opportunity. Young fawns, racoons, 

 hares, wild turkeys, and other large birds, are their usual food, and they 

 devour putrid flesh only when hard pressed by hunger, none alighting on 

 carrion at any other time. They are nice in cleaning the skin or plucking 

 the feathers of their prey, although they swallow their food in large pieces, 

 often mixed with hair and bones, which they afterwards disgorge. They are 

 muscular, strong, and hardy, capable of bearing extreme cold without injury, 

 and of pursuing their avocations in the most tempestuous weather. A full 

 grown female weighs about twelve pounds, the male about two pounds and 

 a half less. This species seldom removes far from its place of residence, and 

 the attachment of two individuals of different sexes appears to continue for 

 years. 



They do not obtain the full beauty of their plumage until the fourth year, 

 the Ring-tailed Eagle of authors being the young in the dress of the second 

 and third years. Our north-western Indians are fond of ornamenting their 

 persons and implements of war with the tail-feathers of this Eagle, which 

 they kill expressly for that purpose. 



I conclude my account of this species with an anecdote relating to it given 

 in one of Dr. Rush's lectures upon the effects of fear on man. During the 

 revolutionary war, a company of soldiers were stationed near the highlands 

 of the Hudson river. A Golden Eagle had placed her nest in a cleft of the 

 rocks half way between the summit and the river. A soldier was let down 

 by his companions suspended by a rope fastened around his body. When 

 he reached the nest, he suddenly found himself attacked by the Eagle; in self 

 defence he drew the only weapon about him, his knife, and made repeated 

 passes at the bird, when accidentally he cut the rope almost off. It began 

 unravelling; those above hastily drew him up, and relieved him from his 

 perilous situation at the moment when he expected to be precipitated to the 

 bottom. The Doctor stated that so powerful was the effect of the fear the 

 soldier had experienced whilst in danger, that ere three days had elapsed his 

 hair became quite grey. 



Falco fulvus, Bonap. Syn., p. 25. 



Aquila Chrysaetos, Golden Eagle, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer., vol. ii. p. 12. 



Ring-tailed Eagle, Falco fulvus, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. vii. p. 13. 



Royal or Golden Eagle, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 62. 



Golden Eagle, Falco Chrysaetos, Aud. Orn. Biog-., vol. ii. p. 4G4. 



