tlie Grouse, descended with rapid wing from the adjacent
lofty cliffs before our guns were reloaded, and, in defiance ot
the shouts made to deter him, carried off his prey.” In
another part of the Western Highlands of Scotland, Montagu
“ had an opportunity of witnessing the powers of the flight
of this bird in pursuit of its quarry. An old Black Cock
was sprung, and was instantly pursued by the Eagle (who
must have been on a neighbouring rock unperceived) across
the glen, the breadth of which was at least two miles. The
Eagle made several pounces in view, without success, but as
there was no wood nor cover on the opposite mountain
sufficient to conceal so large a bird as the Heath Grouse, he
doubtless forfeited his life to the merciless tyrant of the
rocks.”
Mr. Thompson has given the following information on the
authority of a sporting friend. “ When out hunting among
the Belfast Mountains, an Eagle appeared above his hounds
as they came to fault on the ascent to Devis, the highest of
the chain. As they came 011 the scent again, and were at
full cry, the Eagle for a short time kept above them, hut at
length advanced and carried ofl the hare, when at the distance
of from three to four hundred yards before the hounds.”
M. Luighi Benoit states that in Sicily, a pair of Golden
Eagles have been seen to hunt in concert for game ; one of
the birds gliding over the ground and heating the bushes
and shrubs with its wings, while the other remains on the
look-out at a moderate elevation. A Rabbit or a Hare, if
driven out, is immediately seized, and the prey thus obtained
is shared with its companion.
Eagles are said to he very long-lived; one that died at
Vienna was stated to have lived in confinement one hundred
and four years. Their voice is sharp and loud, consisting
generally of two notes, repeated many times in succession.
Two birds of this species kept by Mr. Selby “ appeared un-
tameable in disposition, their fierceness remaining undiminished
through years of confinement. They did not exhibit
any partiality even for the person who constantly attended and
fed them, hut were as ready to attack him as a stranger.”
In the menagerie at the Gardens of the Zoological Society
there are Golden Eagles and White-tailed Eagles; hut the
keepers find the Golden Eagles the most tractable of the two
species, and several instances have been recorded wherein the
latter have been trained to take Hares and Rabbits. In Central
Asia a large Eagle, called by the name of Bergut, Berkut,
or Bearcoot, and thought by some naturalists to be the
Aquila chrysaetus, is often used for the capture of Antelopes,
Foxes, and even Wolves. It is carried on horseback, or on
a perch between two men. I t seizes the smaller animals by
the head with one foot, and by the haunch with the other.
The larger ones it attacks on the head alone. Such a bird,
when well trained, is valued by the Kirghiz, says Pallas, at
the price of two Camels.
The whole length of an adult male Golden Eagle is nearly
three fee t; the adult female is still larger. The beak is
bluish horn-colour, darkest at the tip ; the cere yellow ; the
skin of the lore tinged with blue; the irides hazel, the pupils
black; the feathers on the top of the head and back of the
neck pointed in shape, and rufous-brown : the general colour
of the plumage of the body dark brown, the chin and throat
particularly so ; the wing-primaries nearly black, the secondaries
brownish-black; the wing-coverts reddish-brown, varied
with dark brown; the feathers of the belly and thighs bay;
those of the tail varied with two shades of brown, the ends
dark: the legs covered with bay feathers; the toes yellow
and reticulated, except the last or distal joint of each toe,
which is covered with three broad scales; the claws are black,
the outer claw of each foot the smallest of the four.
In a younger specimen of the Golden Eagle with the basal
or proximal half of the tail white, the feathers on the back
of the neck were less rufous, and the general colour of the
plumage 011 the body and wings more uniform, and darker.
In this state it is the Ring-tailed Eagle and Aquila fulva of
authors. White varieties of the Golden Eagle have been
seen and recorded.
The Eagles of the mountains of Sainte Victoire, near Aix
in Provence, have' been described as forming a distinct
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