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GOLDEN EAGLE. 
Aquila chrysaeta Bkisson. 
PLATE XII. 
Falco crysaetos, Linn. — Aquila crysaeta, Brisson, 
Fleming, Selby — Aigle Royal, of the French Golden 
Eagle of Brit. Omithol. Young. — Falco fulvus, Zmn. Sj-c. 
— Ring-tailed Eagle. 
The Golden Eagle has ever been associated 
with majesty or nobility ; in ancient mythology, 
an eagle was alone thought worthy to bear the 
thunder of Jove. By rude and savage nations 
he is combined with courage and independence. 
The young Indian warrior glories in his eagle’s 
plume as the most distinguished ornament with 
which he can adorn himself. The dress of the 
Highland chieftain is incomplete without this 
badge of high degree. And if, by the trammels 
of system, (which, nevertheless, is indispensable, 
when the number of objects to be arranged exceeds 
eight thousand,) we are forced to place him in an 
aberrant or less honourable situation, yet, when 
met with on his native mountains, free and uncon- 
trolled, we cannot refuse the tribute which has 
been rendered to him by our predecessors. 
