GOLDEN EAGLE. 



AQUILA CHRYSAETOS (Linn.). 



Falco chrysaetos, Linn. S. N. i. p. 125 (1766). 

 Falco fulvus, Naum. i. p. 208. 



Aquila chrysaetus, Macg. iii. p. 204; Yarr. ed. 4, i. p. 11; 



Dresser, v. p. 533. 

 Aquila chrysaetos, Hewitson, i. p. 8. 



Grand Aigle, Aigle dore, French ; Stein-Adler, German ; 

 Aguila real, Aguila negra, Aguila serrana, Spanish. 



This fine species, owing to the enlightened protection 

 of a few landed proprietors and lessees of deer-forests, 

 still breeds in the Highlands of Scotland, and, 1 believe, 

 in some of the mountain -ranges of Ireland; but its 

 numbers have been greatly curtailed by the high price 

 set upon its eggs by collectors, and the persecution of 

 game-preservers. It is recorded to have bred formerly 

 in various parts of England and in North Wales, but 

 has long ceased to do so, and is now a very rare visitor 

 to any part of Great Britain south of the border. The 

 nest is usually situated on a ledge of rock, in some cases 

 easily accessible, not infrequently in high trees, and the 

 same site is annually used. The eggs are generally 

 three in number, but it is seldom that more than two 

 are hatched. In Scotland, as far as my own experience 

 goes, the principal food of this Eagle consists of Blue 

 or Alpine Hares, and Rabbits, very young Lambs, and 

 carrion. 



Some gamekeepers declare that the Eagles are very 

 destructive to Grouse ; but I only once, in Scotland, saw 

 one of this species in actual pursuit of any bird, in this 

 case a Ptarmigan was the object. 



The drawing for the accompanying Plate was taken 

 in 1888 from a pair of birds in the aviary at Lilford, 

 which were taken from a nest in Scotland in 1877, and 

 laid eggs for the first time in the year first mentioned. 



