304 ZOOLOGY. 
add, for some imaginary qualities which modern science has failed to demon- 
strate, but of which we will omit further notice, having, as the great Wilson 
observes of himself respecting the subject, “no ambition to excite surprise 
and astonishment at the expense of truth, or to attempt to elevate and em- 
bellish the subject beyond the plain realities of nature.” Whoever wishes to 
find the subject treated in a very beautiful, but quite imaginative manner, 
can do so by referring to Buffon or Goldsmith’s account of the . golden 
eagle. 
The habits of the golden eagle appear to be precisely those of the other 
large birds of prey; it generally captures living animals, but does not reject 
dead or even putrid bodies, though the reverse is distinctly asserted by the 
older writers. It builds in the recesses of mountains, laying two or three ~ 
egos. In America it is frequently met with, though most common on the 
western side of the continent. Its feathers are in much request among the 
Indian tribes as decorations, especially of the pipe of peace and other objects 
of their respect. 
Of the typical eagles, which are characterized by densely feathered tarsi, 
there are several other species. The great black African eagle (Aquila ver- 
reauxii) deserves especial mention; he is larger than the golden eagle, and 
clothed in perfectly black plumage, except a space upon his back which is 
pure white. He would make a fine figure upon the coat of arms of an African 
republic. His habits have not been recorded. 
The wedge-tailed eagle (A. fucosa, Cuy.) is another large species, in- 
habiting Australia, and remarkable for a peculiar shaped tail, the central 
feathers being longest. There are also other species found principally in 
Europe and the adjacent continents, such as the spotted eagle (A. nevia), the 
imperial eagle (A. imperialis), the little eagle (A. pennata), and several 
others. 
The fishing eagles, genus Haliaétus, consist of several species which are 
found in various parts of the world. In this genus is the great sea eagle of 
the north of Asia and America, H. pelagicus, which is the largest of its tribe.’ 
Little is known of its habits. Here too 1s classed the bald, or American eagle, 
which has had the good fortune to be immortalized as the emblem of our 
country. He lives principally in the neighborhood of rivers and upon the 
sea-coast, feeding mainly upon fish, which he does not hesitate to take by vio- 
lence from more expert fishers, such as the osprey. This handsome bird does 
not attain his perfect plumage for several years, being in early stages entirely 
deep brown, without a vestige of the beautiful white head and tail which adorn 
the adult. 
A large species has been described by Audubon as the Washington eagle 
(H. washingtoni), which, however, appears to be exceedingly rare, and much 
resembles the young of the common species. 
The European sea eagle (EZ. albicilla) is a well known species, much resem- 
bling in general characters its American relative. It breeds in ledges of the 
elevated rocks upon the sea-coast, and is frequently a fine feature in the wild 
landscape of those localities. 
There are several African species of the fishers, the most remarkable of 
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