BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA 
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feeds principally on moles, mice and other small quadrupeds, and never 
attacks a duck on the wing*, although now and then it pursues a wounded 
one. When not alarmed it usually flies low and sedately, and does not 
exhibit any of the courage and vigor so conspicuous in most other hawks, 
suffering thousands of birds to pass without pursuing them. The 
greatest feat I have ever seen it perform was scrambling at the edge of 
the water to secure a lethargic frog. They alight on trees to roost, but 
appear so hungry or indolent at all times that they seldom retire to rest 
until after dusk. Their large eyes, indeed, seem to indicate their pos- 
session of the faculty of seeing at that late hour. I have frequently put 
up one that seemed watching for food at the edge of a ditch long after 
sunset. Whenever an opportunity offers they eat to excess, and, like 
the Turkey Buzzards and Carrion Crows, disgorge their food, to enable 
themselves to fly off. The species is more nocturnal in its habits than 
any other hawk found in the United States. The number of meadow 
mice which this species destroys ought, one might think, to secure it 
the protection of every husbandman.” — Audubon. 
In the stomachs of eleven of these hawks, which I have examined, 
were found only field mice. 
Genus AdUILA Brisson. 
Aquila chrysaetos (Linn.). 
Golden Eagle. 
Description. 
Tarsi densely feathered all round to base of yellow toes. Length about 3 feet ; 
extent 6| to feet. 
Adult.— General color dark brown ; the lengthened, pointed feathers of hind-neck 
golden brown ; feathers of tarsi pale yellowish- brown ; tail blackish and grayish. 
Young . — Basal two-thirds of tail white, with a blackish terminal band ; lower 
parts much lighter than adult. 
Habitat . — North America south to Mexico, and northern parts of the Old World. 
This large bird occurs in Pennsylvania as an occasional winter visi- 
tant. The only species with which it is sometimes confounded is the 
Bald or White-headed Eagle in immature plumage. The two species 
can always be distinguished at a single glance, if you remember that 
the Golden Eagle has the tarsus densely feathered to the toes, and the 
Bald Eagle has a hare tarsus. One of the largest Golden Eagles I ever 
saw was captured in December, 1889, by a hunter, in Cameron county. 
This bird, which was handsomelj^ mounted by my friend, Mr. M. M. 
Larrabee, of Emporium, weighed, Mr. Larrabee informed me, twenty- 
five pounds. This bird breeds in high mountainous regions and the 
Arctic countries. 
The following mention of the peculiarities of the Golden Eagle in 
captivity I gleaned from conversation with Mr. B. M. Everhart, who for 
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