The nest is usually placed horizontally, in the hollow or fissure of some high and abrupt rock, and is construct ed of sticks of five or six feet in length, interlaced with pliant twigs, and covered with layers of rushes, heath, or moss. Unless destroyed by some accident, it is suppos ed to suffice, with occasional repairs, for the same couple during their lives. It is said that a peasant once got a comfortable subsistence for himself and family out of an eagle's nest ; and that he protracted the assiduity of the old birds, by clipping the wings, and thus retarding the flight of the young, as also by binding the latter, so as to increase their cries, and thus stimulate the urgency of the parents to supply their wants. It was lucky for him, however, that the old ones did not happen to encounter him, as their resentment might have proved fatal. An Irish peasant, who had determined to rob an eagle's nest on one of the islands of the lake of Killarney, was less fortunate. He swam over, indeed, when the old birds were gone ; but on his return, while still up to the chin in water, they fell on him, killed him on the spot, and rescu ed their offspring.
The female of the present species usually lays two, sometimes only one, and rarely three eggs, of a dirty white, speckled with rufous or reddish. The incubation lasts thirty days. The eaglets are at first covered with a white down ; and their early feathers are of a pale yel low. Like the rest of the tribe, the royal eagle drives off the young from its nest as soon as they are able to shift for themselves,—a circumstance which Pliny states like an elegant philosopher, and Thomson describes in the genuine spirit of poetry.
European falconers have long since desisted from at tempting to press the eagle into their service, both on ac count of its weight, (from t 6 to 18 pounds,) which renders it inconvenient to carry on the hand, and of its untract able and malevolent dispositions. Vet, in some regions of Persia, and India, it is tutored to the hunting of deer and antelopes ; and the Kirgis, a nomadic horde, who pitch their tents to the east of the Caspian Sea, are as knowing in young eagles, as our jockeys are in horses, and will give the Russian dealers a fine horse or a sheep in exchange fur an eagle suited to their purpose, while they will scarcely offer the most contemptible trifle for another that gives no indication of possessing the pro per qualities. Here, then, we have an illustration of an important zoological pesition, that individuals of the same species widely differ from one another in re spect of temper and talents. The independent Tartars have long been accustomed to discipline this species to the chase of hares, foxes, antelopes, and even wolves ; and the practice is at least as old as 1269, when Marco Polo contemplated, with admiration, the diversions of the Grand Khan of Tartary, who had several eagles that were devoted to this kind of sport. This, however, like other eagles, has a very imperfect sense of smell, and hunts merely by its exquisite sight. Although it frequently gets fat in winter, and its flesh contracts no offensive flavour, it is, nevertheless, too tough and stringy to be used as food.
From its stately demeanour, and the altitude of its flight, the eagle was denominated, by the ancients, the Celestial Bird, and regarded in their mythology as the Messenger of Jove, and worthy of bearing the thunder ' bolts in its talons. Its figure, in gold or silver, and
. placed on the cod of a spear, was the military ensign of the Romans and of the Persians; and it has been adopted in modern heraldry as an emblem of power.
F. ncevius, Gmel. &c. including his Ma culatus ; la Mange:, Vieill.; Spotted, Rough-footed, or Plaintive Eagle. Body, head, wings, and tail, of a glossy brown, of various degrees of intensity, according to age.
Although not numerous in any particular district, the spotted eagle is spread over Europe, with the exception, it is alleged, of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway ; but it is not uncommon in Russia, Siberia, and even Kamtschatka. It occurs likewise in Asia Minor, Persia, Arabia, and in Africa ; and a variety, with an imbricated tail, is found in New Holland. The female builds her nest on lofty trees, and lays two white eggs, streaked, at wide intervals; with red. Ducks, pigeons, rats, and large insects, are its principal prey. It is of less spirited dispositions than other eagles, and is remarkable for its plaintive cry. Being • more easily tamed than most of the race, it has sometimes been used in falconry, but seldom with much success, on account of its want of courage; for it has been subdued and brought to the ground by a sparrow-hawk.
armzger, Shaw ; F. bellicus, Lath. ; Griffard, Le vaill. ; GrIll'ard, or Warlike Eagle. Grey-brown above, white beneath ; hind-head crested, the smaller wing-fea thers and tail crossed with whitish bars. The male differs from the female, chiefly, in the greater darkness of its colouring. About the size of the royal eagle. It is a very fierce and ravenous species, preying on the young of antelopes, hares, and other small quadrupeds, and driving predacious birds from its domain. When he has slain his victim, troops of crows and vultures flock from different quarters, to participate of the spoil ; but, standing on the dead body, his haughty and menacing attitude suffices to ward off the band of greedy and importunate plunderers. The lemale builds her eyry either on very tall trees, or on abrupt points of rock, constructing a large platform, strong enough to bear the weight of a man. The eggs, which are two in number, are almost spherical, and per fectly white. During incubation the male caters for the family; but when the young have grown a little, their ravenous appetite consumes the supplies of both parents. The griffard is, in fats, uncommonly voracious. Levail lam preserved one alive, which he bad lamed in the wing, and which, during three days, refused every kind of nourishment ; but it then became insatiable, was thrown into a state of extreme agitation whenever meat was presented to it, and would often swallow an entire lump of nearly a pound weight. Even when its crop was filled, it refused nothing, and bolted, indiscriminately, every kind of flesh, not excepting that of other birds of prey. It is a native of Africa, particularly of the Nantaquas, and is conspicuous for strength. courage, and ferocity.