532 
BIKD-LIFE. 
cultivation. It cannot, unfortunately, live on good terms 
with man, and is thus obliged to give way when the 
latter obtains entire possession of the field, and for 
this reason the Golden Eagle is much more common in 
Northern and Southern Europe than with us. Where 
this bird is established it is seen both in winter and 
summer: not being a bird of passage, it rarely wanders 
wide of its usual beat, and then only when food is scarce. 
In this it differs widely from its smaller relatives, inas¬ 
much as they push their travels as far even as Central 
Africa. 
All the movements of this bird are rapid, yet steady: 
its splendid flight—a swift, noiseless gliding—is accom¬ 
plished almost without motion of the wings; the walk, 
however, on the contrary, is heavy and jerky. When 
walking, the Golden Eagle is seen to least advantage; 
sitting, its carriage is always perpendicular, like that 
of man, and in that position it cannot possibly, at any 
distance, be mistaken for any other bird. It is especially 
when perched that the Golden Eagle impresses the 
spectator with an appearance of sternness, a motionless, 
yet powerful repose, coupled with the most searching 
glance, careful watchfulness, and a proud consciousness 
of power. 
The appearance of an Eagle on the scene is the signal 
for universal terror and consternation among all the weaker 
animals: the shrill “ hea, hea,” or “gieha,” which one 
sometimes hears, is sufficient to put to flight both bird and 
mammal. That splendid eye “ sees afar off/’ as the Bible 
justly says ; nothing escapes its glance. Proud, majestic, 
and silent, it sweeps along, yet its glances search out un¬ 
erringly the wide expanse which is extended far beneath it. 
It circles round and round, apparently careless of what is 
