Wonders of the Animal Kingdom: Birds (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from Wonders of the Animal Kingdom: Birds

Prey, such as birds and small quadrupeds, espe cially the latter. They always kill their prey on the ground, which distinguishes them from the falcon tribe; and with their talons, which distin guishes them from the vulture. In strength, in vigour of the wing, acuteness of sight, and pow erful clutch of the talons, the Golden Eagle is superior to every other bird. In size, it is gene rally about three or four feet long, and seven or eight feet in the expansion of the Wings. This great extent of wings makes them, when folded, as long as the tail. The female is larger than the male. The plumage Of a full-grown Eagle is of a blackish-brown on the back, the tail is of a deep grey barred with brown, the head a lively golden red. The powerful tendons and muscles by which the talons are moved are protected by a thick coating of feathers, covering the feet bones down to the very division of the toes. The feet are composed of three powerful, sharp, and hooked talons, of a yellowish colour, and defended above by three horny plates or scales on the last joint of each toe. So admirable is the mechanism of the foot, that when dried, it may be made to.

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