Eagle (Animal)

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This is the usual in the "Animal" series from this publisher. The formula is to mix natural history of the animal with discussion of its cultural meaning in the arts and religion, and mix in a generous number of excellent illustrations. This book does just that for eagles, and does it well. The writing is crisp and the illustrations are excellent.Chapters can be read as separate essays. The first chapter is the one most concerned with eagle biology and ecology. It makes the point that "eagle" is not a scientific term, and that of the approximate 75 species, weight varies from one to twenty pounds. The exact number is in dispute. Among the interesting details are that eagle eyes are 2 to 3 times more acute than the human, that their vision extends into spectra we cannot see. The author breaks eagles into five broad categories: booted eagles (they have feathers on part of the leg and foot that most birds do not, hence "boot"), snake eagles, fish eagles, hawk eagles and large tropical forest eagles. Eagles, alas for their regal reputation, regularly eat carrion and steal from other birds.Chapter 2 covers the sacred eagle, which includes mythology, folk tales, various creation stories from all over the world, and does it well. Discussions such as this can be a waste of time, but in this book it is well done. Chapter 3 considers the patriotic eagle, from the Roman legion's imperial eagle to the double headed eagle of Byzantium and Romanov Russia. Eagles of one kind or another are national symbols in the USA and Mexico and many other places. The eagle as symbol was important in Facism in the past century. Chapter 4 examines the aesthetic eagle in art and literature, often as symbol, and this slightly overlaps the chapter on the sacred eagle because it also looks at folk tales, as well as painting and other media.The book concludes with Chapter 5, "Eagles in Our World." Eagles fare very differently in different areas, and in some places are endangered because of habitat destruction. The book is guardedly optimistic about the future of eagles in a human dominated world.