THE GOLDEN EAGLE. 
13 
eye of a very brilliant hazel colour. The sight and sense 
of smelling are very acute. The head and neck are clothed 
with narrow, sharp pointed feathers, of a deep brown co- 
lour, bordered with tawny; but those on the crown of the 
head, in very old birds, turn grey. The whole body, above 
as well as beneath, is of a dark brown; and the feathers 
of the back are finely clouded with a deeper shade of 
the same. The wings when clothed reach to the end of 
the tail. The quill feathers are of a chocolate colour, the 
shafts white. The tail is of a deep brown, irregularly barred 
and blotched with an obscure ash-colour, and usually 
white at the roots of the feathers. The legs are yellow, 
short, and very strong, being three inches in circumference, 
and feathered to the very feet. The toes are covered with 
large scales, and armed with the most formidable claws, 
the middle of which are two inches long. 
fn the rear of this terrible bird follow the ring-tailed 
e«g/e, the common eagle, the bald eagle, the while eagle, 
t te rough-footed eagle, the erne, the black eagle, the os- 
prey, the sea eagle, the crowned eagle, Sfc. These, and 
others that might be added, form different shades in this 
( TCe family ; but have all the same rapacity, the same 
general fbrpi, the same habits, and the same manner of 
i mging up their young. 
ill n " e | u ' ra ^ these birds are found in the mountainous and 
Ti"I leo l| e d countries, and breed among the loftiest cliffs, 
tey choose those places which are remotest from man, 
pon whose possessions they but seldom make their depre- 
a ions, being contented rather to follow the wild game in 
>e forest, than to risk their safety to satisfy their hunger, 
tt requires great patience and much art to tame an eagle, 
an 1 even though taken young, and brought under by long 
ssidutty, yet still it is a dangerous domestic, and often turns 
>s force against its master. When brought into the field 
or the purposes of fowling, the falconer is never sure ofils 
a ttachment : the innate pride, and love of liberty, still 
If-Pt d to regain its native solitudes ; and the moment 
lie falconer sees it, when let loose, first stoop towards the 
ground, and then rise perpendicularly into the clouds he 
g‘ves up a ii hi s former labour for lost ; quite sure of never 
oetiolding bis late prisoner more. Sometimes, however, 
jiey are brought to have an attachment for their feeder; 
> e > ate then highly serviceable, and liberally provide for 
S ,P eas ures and support. When the falconer lets them 
till V' 1 - 1 US ^ an< P Ule Y P^y about and hover round him 
t len game presents, which they see at an immense dis* 
ce j and pursue with certain destruction. 
