>SPECIES 5. FdLCO FUL VUS.



                  RING-TAIL EAGLE.

             [Plate LV.-Fig. 1, young bird.]

LINN. Syst. ed. 10, p. 88.-Black Eagcle, .rct. Zool. p. 195, A10.
  87.--LA H. I,S32, JV'o. 6.-- Wl ite-tailed Eagle, EDW. I, 1 .--L'Jiigle
  Commun, BUFF. i, 86. Pl. Ent. 409.-BEWICK, I,p. 49,-PE.ALE'S
  Museum, A'o. 84; .o. 85, young.

  THE reader is now presented with a portrait of this celebrated
Eagle, drawn from a fine specimen shot in the county of Mont-
gomery, Pennsylvania. The figure here given, though reduced
to one-third the size of life, is strongly characteristic of its
original. With respect to the habits of the species, such partic-
ulars only shall be selected as are well authenticated, rejecting
whatever seems vague, or savours too much of the marvellous.
  This noble bird, in strength, spirit and activity, ranks among
the first of its tribe. It is found, though sparingly dispersed,
over the whole temperate and arctic regions, particularly the
latter; breeding on high precipitous rocks; always preferring a
mountainous country. In its general appearance it has great
resemblance to the Golden Eagle, from which, however, it
differs in being rather less; as also in the colours and markings
of the tail; and, as it is said, in being less noisy. When young,
the colour of the body is considerably lighter, but deepens into
a blackish brown as it advances in age.
  The tail feathers of this bird are highly valued by the various
tribes of American Indians, for ornamenting their calumets, or
Pipes of Peace. Several of these pipes, which were brought
from the remote regions of Louisiana by captain Lewis, are
now deposited in Peale's Museum, each of which has a number
of the tail feathers of this bird attached to it. The Northern as
well as Southern Indians seem to follow the like practice, as