Mr. R. B. Sharpe’s Catalogue of Accipitres. 211 
ing phases of coloration which are incident to the Golden 
Eagle, and which perhaps are, in some cases, indicative 
(though this is by no means certain) of distinguishable geo¬ 
graphical races. I am disposed to think that this is the 
wisest course, as the data which we at present possess in 
regard to these races do not seem sufficient to justify us in 
erecting them into separate subspecies. 
Golden Eagles vary considerably, not only in tone of colour, 
but also in size; and Mr. Sharpe, in a footnote to p. 237 of 
his work, refers especially to the large size of North-American 
and of Himalayan specimens; but my own impression is, 
that these variations in size are almost as often indicative of 
individual as of geographical peculiarities; and the following 
measurements of the wing from the carpal-joint, and of the 
tarsus, in examples from various localities, tend, I think, 
somewhat to confirm this view:— 
Ascertained or Presumed Males. 
Largest of five North-American, measured 
Wing. 
Tarsus. 
by Mr. Ridgway* * * § ... 
24-5 
3-8 
Smallest of ditto. 
23-0 
3-65 
From Texas, in the Norwich Museum .... 
22-3 
3-5 
From Scotland, measured by Macgillivray+ 
From south of France, in Norwich Mu- 
24-0 
4-0 
seum X .... 
24-6 
3-7 
From Spain, in the Norwich Museum .... 
From Spain, in the collection of Mr. J. H. 
24-7 
3-8 
Gurney, Jun.... 
24-1 
3-5 
From Algeria, in Norwich Museum. 
22*6 
3-8 
Ascertained or Presumed Females. 
Largest of seven Nortli-American, measured 
by Mr. Ridgway* . 27*0 4*2 
Smallest of ditto . ..... 25*0 4-15 
From Nortli America, measured by Mr. 
Sharpe § .... 26-25 4*1 
* Vide 1 North-American Land-Birds,’ by Baird, Brewer and Ridgway, 
vol. iii. p. 315. 
t Vide Maegillivray’s * British Birds,’ vol. iii. p. 207. 
| A specimen of the so-called Aquila barthelemyi. 
§ Vide Sharpe’s Catalogue, p. 237, footnote. 
