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Any large, rapacious bird of the Falcon family, esp. of the genera Aquila and Haliæetus. The eagle is remarkable for strength, size, graceful figure, keenness of vision, and extraordinary flight. The most noted species are the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaëtus); the imperial eagle of Europe (A. mogilnik or imperialis); t…

od season; prior in time; among or near the first; -- opposed to Ant: late; as, the early bird; an early spring; early fruit. Early and provident fear is the mother of safety. Burke. The doorsteps and threshold with the early grass springing up about them. Hawthorne.

Made of ebony, or resembling ebony; black; as, an ebony countenance. This ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling. Poe.

One of the dorsal branches of the main bronchi in the lungs of birds.

Anything edible. Edible bird's nest. See Bird's nest,

The oval or roundish body laid by domestic poultry and other birds, tortoises, etc. It consists of a yolk, usually surrounded by the "white" or albumen, and inclosed in a shell or strong membrane.

A place where eggs are deposited (as by sea birds) or kept; a nest of eggs. [R.]

esented as delighting in mischievous tricks. Every elf, and fairy sprite, Hop as light as bird from brier. Shak.

A large Australian bird, of two species (Dromaius Novæ- Hollandiæ and D. irroratus), related to the cassowary and the ostrich. The emu runs swiftly, but is unable to fly. [Written also emeu and emew.]

A small wrenlike Australian bird (Stipiturus malachurus), having the tail feathers long and loosely barbed, like emu feathers.

ing the anterior scutes extending around the tarsus on the inner side; -- said of certain birds.

One of the main bronchi in the lungs of birds.

rojection, formed by a separate ossification, at the scapular end of the clavicle of many birds.

A genus of highly ornate and brilliantly colored birds of Australia, allied to the birds of Paradise.

One of the gigantic ostrichlike birds of the genus Æpiornis, only recently extinct. Its remains have been found in Madagascar. [Written also Æpyornis.]

A horny excrescence upon the beak of birds.

An unusual redness, esp. in the plumage of birds, or hair of mammals, independently of age, sex, or season.

rain for food. Sir W. Jones. Esculent swallow (Zoöl.), the swallow which makes the edible bird's- nest. See Edible bird's-nest, under Edible.

Standing, but with the wings spread, as if about to fly; -- said of a bird borne as a charge on an escutcheon.

Having a blanched or faded appearance, as birds inhabiting desert regions.