EAGLE, as a popular name, includes several raptorial birds which vary in some respects from the strictly defined group in which sci ence has been wont to place it. The order Accipitres, to which it belongs, is broad enough in definition to include all the vultures, the typical eagles, and the buzzards. Recent osteo logical demonstrations, however, have led to the of American vultures from the Old World vultures, including the latter in the family Falcotside, to which eagles and vultures belong. This family, which embraces 300 spe cies of diurnal raptores, is characterized by imperforate nostrils, legs of medium length, and, except in the Old World vultures, a feathered head, a bill hooked, the hind toe inserted on a level with the three front ones, and the claws roundly curved and sharp. The sub-family Aquiline makes promi nent the cutting edge of the upper mandible, the bony shield over the eye, the feet heavy and short, either scutellate or feathered. The 14rn mergeier (Gypaetus barbatus), lamb-killer, or bearded vulture of the Alps, the Pyrenees, and the Himalayas, finds its nearest affinity here. The Aquiline are naturally divided into two genera: Aquila, land eagles, and Haliaetus, sea fishing eagles. The former is feathered to the toes, the latter half way to the toes.
The leading specimen of Aquila is the golden eagle (A. chrysaetus) one of the largest and most magnificent of its kind, dark brown with purple gloss; head and neck brownish yellow ; tail rounded and dark brown, ending in light and dark tints. The length is about three feet, the extent of wing seven feet. In North America its range is from Mexico north. It is very scarce in the United States but more abundant in Canada, where it is distinguished as canadensis. It is regarded as a variety of the European species, which seldom occurs in Eng land, though more prevalent in Scotland, where the demand for its eggs has favored its in crease. The nest is usually placed on some inaccessible cliff, the eggs are spotted and do not exceed three. Closely allied to the golden eagle are the imperial eagle (A. mogilnik) of southwestern Europe and of Asia, and the king eagle (A. hiliaca) of the same range. The smallest of the kind is the dwarf eagle. (A. pennata) which measures less than two feet and is native in Southern Europe, North Africa and in India.
First in interest among the sea-eagles stands the bald-headed eagle (Haliaetus leucocepha lus), selected as the national emblem of the United States. Its markings are familiar, though the term ((bald)) is to be referred not to the absence of feathers, but to the effect produced by the white feathers on the head. In size, it corresponds nearly to the golden eagle, but it differs in its habits, living mainly upon the fish which it seizes along the sea-shore and around lakes and rivers. The nest is built
on a high tree top or upon a rocky cliff. A finer specimen than this is the northern sea eagle (Haliaetuspelagicus) of northeastern Asia. It is conspicuous by its large form and bill, and by the contrast of its main color, brown, with the white of its shoulders, rum and tail. The African sea-eagle (H. vocifer is a fish-eater, about half the size of the Thal head," remarkable for its color-markings, being white on the head, neck and breast, while the under parts and wing coverts are chestnut, and the upper parts are black or brown. nearly related to the Haliaetus is the fishing-eagle (Polioaetus ichthyatus) of India and the East Indies, with extremely curved talons, and liv ing entirely on fish. In countries bordering on the Mediterranean and ranging into India and Central Europe, is the serpent-eagle (Circaetus gallicus) with short toes, white, brown-spotted under parts, and dark brown upper parts. It feeds upon reptiles, which it kills and carries away, not eating the game on the spot, as do other eagles. A buzzardlike genus, Helotarsus, is represented in Southern Africa by H. ecau datus, the short-tailed eagle, oramented with maroon and black plumage, and bright red, very short legs.
The buzzard-eagles include some species which command notice from their great size and powerful action which fairly entitle them to their name. South America, in the dense forests of the Amazon, is the habitat of the Guiana eagle (Morphnus guianiensis) relatively small, but with a tail longer than that of almost any other species. The wings are short and rounded, adapting it to swooping down with great force upon its prey, rather than for lofty or prOlonged flight. From southern Mexico through the forests of Brazil, the harpy-eagle (Thrasaetus harpyia) has its home, and for muscular power is scarcely surpassed by any bird of prey in the world. It is larger than the golden eagle, gray in color, with long crest feathers, a stout, vicious bill, and talons of extraordinary force and sharpness. Though rapacious and apparently destructive, the eagles are useful in killing many other birds which venture nearer to farms and human habita tions, in reducing the number of injurious rep tiles and small mammals, and in helping to preserve the balance of the animal world. From the most ancient times the eagle has been regarded as the emblem of might and courage. Its great power of vision, the vast height to which it soars in the sky, the wild grandeur of its abode, have likewise commended it to the poets of all nations. It was associated with Jupiter in Roman mythology and was used on the standards of several Roman legions, whence it has descended to the national ensigns of Ger many, Russia and the United States. See BIRD, and consult authorities there given.