Birds of America
By John James Audubon, F. R. SS. L. & E.
VOLUME I.
GENUS III.--AQUILA, Briss. EAGLE.
Bill rather short, deep, compressed; upper mandible with the dorsal outline
nearly straight and sloping at the base, beyond the cere decurved, the sides
sloping and slightly convex, the edges nearly straight, with a slight convexity
and a shallow sinus close to the strong subtrigonal tip; lower mandible with the
dorsal outline convex, the tip obliquely truncate. Head large, roundish,
flattened above. Nostrils oval, oblique, nearer the ridge than the margin.
Neck rather short. Body very large. Feet rather short, very robust; tarsi
roundish, feathered to the toes, which are rather short, united at the base by
short webs, covered above with a series of angular scales, and towards the end
with a few large scutella; claws long, curved, rounded, flat beneath, acuminate.
Plumage compact, imbricated, glossy; feathers of the head and neck narrow and
pointed; space between the bill and eye covered with small bristle-pointed
feathers, disposed in a radiating manner. Wings long, the fourth quill longest;
the first short; the outer six abruptly cut out on the inner web. Tail rather
long, ample, rounded.