58 



O^^ClTHOLOgj. Book II. 



All thefe things we have tranlcribed out of Aldrovandus his Ornithology, where oc- 

 cur more fuch like, which are common to other Rapacious Birds. For befides its emi- 

 nent Magnitude we do not acknowledge any Chara&eriftic note whereby Eagles may 

 be diftinguiihed from Hawks . How they are differenced from Vultures iha\\ be fhewn 

 when we come to treat of Vultures. 



As for the names of the Eagles, it is called Grecians 'A&ms and 'A^tdj from the 

 Verb 'A/aw, fignifying to rufti on or be carried forwards violently with great force 

 and lwiftnefs, becaufe of thefwiftnefs of its flight : By the Latines it is named Aquila, 

 either ab acumine vifus horn the fharpnefs of its light, or from the colour called [Affi- 

 le ] that is, blackiih or dusky, fo denominated from water £ Aqua."] s 



Chap. III. 

 Of the feyeral hinds of Eagles. 



i. i. 



*The Golden Eagle, Chysaetos Aldrovandi Ornithologi£,X&>.2. cap.2. 



Aquila fulva feu aurea. 



Irs Weight. 

 Its Length. 

 Ereadth. 

 The Beak. 



Eing put in the balance [fiatera ] we found it to weigh twelve pounds. From 

 point of Beak to tip of Tail it was full three feet and nine Inches long. The 

 length from the Bill to the Talons was four fpans and an half. The breadth 

 from tip to tip of the Wings extended eight fpans. The Beak was one Palm [hand- 

 breadth] and one inch long. For the hooked part alone hung down beyond the 

 lower Chap a full Inch. The breadth of the Bill, efpecially about the middle was 

 more than tw o Inches. The hooked part or point was blacker, the reft of the Bill of 

 a horn-colour, inclining to a pale blue, and fpotted with dusky. The widenels of 

 The Mouth, the Mouth gaping [_ ri&us ~\ was one Palm and an Inch. The Tongue was like a 

 The Tongue. jyj an ^ j 3roac ] ) round, and blunt at the tip, toward the root on both fides armed with 

 two hooked, horny Appendices, tied down in the middle to the lower mandible by 

 a thin Membrane. The Palate perforate in the middle. The lower Chap of the 

 Bill channelled, the edges whereof (landing upon both fides are received in the upper. 

 The Membrane which arifing from the Forehead is extended beyond the Nofthrils, 

 and likewiie the borders of the bridle or corners of the mouth are yellow. The fea- 

 thers of the neck are rigid and * ferrugineous. A certain thick Tunicle ftretched 

 forth from below upwards covered the eye in nidation. This Membrane is called in 

 The Eyelids. Latine Periophthalmium. Two Eye-lids, one above, the other beneath, covered the 

 Eye, although the, lower alone extended upward was fufficient to cover the whole 

 Eye. The region of the Eye-brows was very eminent, like that prominent part of 

 the roofs of houfes called the Eaves, under which the Eyes lay hid, as it were funk 

 in a deep cavity. The Eyes were of the colour called Char opus, of a fiery fplendor, 

 (hilling forth in a pale blew. The Pupil was of a deep black. It is very admirable 

 to obferve what care Nature hath taken, and what provifion (he hath made for the 

 confervation of the Eyes, than which there is no part in this Animal more excellent. 

 For not being content with one Tegument, as is ufual in other Animals, (he feemeth 

 to have framed four feveral lids or covers for them. The Periophthalmium, or Mem- 

 brane for Nidation, is the fame thing, and affords the fame ufe to them that the Eye- 

 lids do to a man. Befides which Nature hath fuperadded two other Eye-lids, and of 

 thefe the lower fo large, that they alone fuffice to cover and preferve the Eyes. The 

 The wings, colour of the Wings and Tail is dusky, and fo much the darker by how much the fea- 

 The JoSu"' of tners are bi gg er - The colour of the reft of the fmall feathers of the whole body is a 

 the whole dark ferrugineous or Chefnut, fprinkled with white (pots, fewer on the back, more 

 Th/'Fia - on thc bel1 ^' tnebottoras °f all being white. Six of the prime feathers on each fide 

 FeaAeS" were twenty two Inches long apiece, having very firm and hard quills, but ihorter 

 The Legs, than thofeof Geeje, and very good to make Writing Pens. The Legs were feathered 

 down to the feet, of a ferrugineous colour. Hence it may evidently appear to any 

 *itib.z.cap4. man, how much * Pe trm Bel/onius is miftaken in that he writes, that Eagles are di- 

 dt Avibm. ft'mguifiiable from Vultures by one only fign, viz. having their Legs naked or defiitute of 

 The Feet, feathers, contrary to what we fee in Vultures. The feet were yellowifh : The back- 

 The Talons, claw of the left foot fix Inches in circumference ; that of the right foot but four j 



fo 



The Palate. 



The Sear. 



The neck- 

 feathers. 

 * Of a rufty 

 colour. 



The Eye- 



b: ows. 



The Eyes. 



