GOLDEN EAGLE. 
173 
prevails considerably in the true Eagles, and is 
greatly developed in the New Holland Wedge- 
tailed Eagle, (Aq. fucosa.) The colour of the 
tail is grayish brown, palest and almost ap- 
proaching to white on the base of the inner 
webs, only the whole appears very dark from 
the crowded arrangement of the dark mark- 
ings ; these are of very deep umber or blackish 
brown, disposed in bars across, and irregular 
clouding in the intervals. In the young birds, 
the terminal band is always present 5 but the 
base of the whole tail is pure white, which is 
gradually obliterated by the occurrence of addi- 
tional bars and clouded markings year after year, 
commencing at first immediately above the ter- 
minal bar, and gradually ascending and becoming 
closer as their age advances. White also predo- 
minates on the other parts of the plumage ; the 
quills and secondaries have a much greater pro- 
portion at the base, and there is a similar distribu- 
tion in greater or less proportions at the roots of 
the feathers over the whole body, which, as with 
the tail, is lost and obscured by the gradual occur- 
rence of bars and cloudings. The irides of the 
young birds are dark, but with age grow paler, 
and become a clear orange brown. The colours 
of the cere and legs, from greenish yellow, assume 
a pure gamboge tint. 
