156 
Allen’s naturalist’s library. 
be almost unknown. The rufous markings are generally dis- 
tributed pretty evenly over the egg, and are intermixed with 
cloudings of a lighter brown, principally at the larger end of the 
egg. In one clutch in the Seebohm collection, from Fin- 
mark, the entire eggs are clouded with pale brown mottlings, 
forming here and there large blotches. Axis, 2'i-2-35 ; diain., 
I-65-I-8. 
THE TRUE EAGLES. GENUS AQUILA. 
Aquila, Briss. Orn. i. p. 419 (1760). 
Type. A. chrysaHus (L.). 
Eagles are found throughout the northern parts of both 
Hemispheres, as far as Mexico in America, and in the Old 
World throughout Europe, Africa, and Asia, but not extend- 
ing into the Malayan regions or to Australia. The large size 
of the Eagles is the best character by which our English species 
can be distinguished, but the Lesser Spotted Eagle is an ex- 
ception, as it is very little bigger than a Buzzard. It must 
be remembered that all members of the genus Aquila have 
feathered legs, and thus it is always easy to tell a True 
Eagle from a Sea-Eagle, which has the legs devoid of fea- 
thers. The claws, or talons, of the Eagles are also extremely 
powerful, and fitted for taking large prey, presenting a marked 
difference in strength to the talons of the Vultures, whose feet 
are adapted for holding, not seizing, their prey. 
1. THE GOLDEN EAGLE. AQUILA ClIRYSAETUS. 
Falco chrysaclHS, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 125 (1766). 
Aquila chrysaitus, Macg. Brit. B. iii. p. 204 (1840) ; Newt. cd. 
Yarr. Brit. B. i. p. n (1871) ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. 
i. p. 235 (1874); Dresser, B. Eur. v. p. 533, pi. 345 (1880); 
Seeb. Brit. B. i. p. 96 (1883); B. 0 . U. List Br. B. p. 96 
(1883) ; Saunders, Man. Br. B. p. 317 (1889) ; Lilford, Col. 
Fig. Br. B. part xxv. (1893). 
(Phle XL V.) 
Adult Male. — General colour above blackish-brown, often 
with a very perceptible purplish gloss, the feathers of the 
mantle and the wing-coverts with ualer edses ; quills blackish. 
