RING-TAILED EAGLE. 



309 



reduced to one-third the size of life, is strongly characteristic 

 of its original. With respect to the habits of the species, such 

 particulars only shall be selected as are well authenticated, 

 rejecting whatever seems vague, or savours too much of the 

 marvellous. 



This noble bird, in strength, spirit, and activity, ranks 

 among the first of its tribe. It is found, though sparingly, 

 dispersed over the whole temperate and arctic regions, parti- 

 cularly the latter ; breeding on high precipitous rocks, always 

 preferring a mountainous country. In its general appearance, 

 it has great resemblance to the golden eagle, from which, how- 

 ever, it differs in being rather less, as also in the colours and 

 markings of the tail, and, as it is said, in being less noisy. 

 When young, the colour of the body is considerably lighter, 

 but deepens into a blackish brown as it advances in age. 



The tail-feathers of this bird are highly valued by the 

 various tribes of American Indians for ornamenting their 

 calumets or pipes of peace. Several of these pipes, which 

 were brought from the remote regions of Louisiana by Captain 



the first year, and as such, is correctly figured by our author. In a wild 

 state, three years are required to complete the clouded barring, the 

 principal mark of the adults, and which, even after that period, increase 

 in darkness of colour. When kept in confinement, the change is gene- 

 rally longer in taking place ; and I have seen it incomplete at six years. 

 It commences by an extension of the bar at the end of the tail, and by 

 additional cloudings on the white parts, which increase yearly until 

 perfected. This bird does not seem very common in any part of America, 

 and is even more rarely met with in the adult plumage. It was found 

 on the borders of the Rocky Mountains by the Overland Arctic Expedi- 

 tion, and is known also on the plains of the Saskatchewan. 



The noble bearing and aspect of the eagles and falcons have always 

 associated them, among rude nations and in poetical comparisons, with 

 the true courage of the warrior and the magnanimity of the prince or 

 chief. The young Indian warrior glories in his eagle's plume, as the 

 most honourable ornament with which he can adorn himself ; the dress 

 of a Highland chieftain is incomplete without this badge of high degree. 

 The feathers of the war eagle are also used at the propitiatory sacrifices, 

 and so highly are they prized, that a valuable horse is sometimes ex- 

 changed for the tail of a single eagle. — Ed. 



