GOLDEN EAGLE. 23 



has much to do with this diflPerence. Contrary to the many stories 

 current regarding the fierceness of the golden eagle in defense of its 

 brood, it strangely enough very rarely attacKs persons who approach 

 or even rob its nest. Indeed, at such times it seems to be actually 

 cowardly, or at least quite unsolicitous for the safety of eggs or 

 young, and at anyone's approach quietly leaves the vicinity. The 

 male apparently does not assist in incubation, but shares in brood- 

 ing the young, and in shading them when the heat of the sun becomes 

 too great. 



FOOD HABITS. 



The golden eagle is apparently not so swift in flight as the bald 

 eagle, and less often chases its prey on the wing, preferring to hunt 

 mostly by soaring or slow flying and dropping suddenly upon the 

 selected victim. It also has favorite perches from which it watches 

 for prey. The two birds of a pair hunt often together, and many a 

 victim is thus takeii that would escape a single bird. The favorite 

 time for hunting is the forenoon, unless the day be cool and cloudy. 

 Although inured to long fasts, this species is, like most other birds of 

 prey, a voracious eater, and at every opportunity gorges itself to 

 repletion. Birds are partially or wholly plucked before being eaten; 

 the larger mammals are often decapitated and stripped of their fur; 

 but small mammals are swallowed, bones, hair, and all, and the 

 indigestible parts finally disgorged in pellets at intervals of a few 

 days. The young are kept well supplied with food, often with much 

 more than they can eat, brought at least two or three times a day. 



Food. 



MAMMALS. 



Mammals form one of the two most important elements of the 

 food of this species. The larger kinds appear not to be often attacked 

 unless wounded or sick, but their young are frequently victimized. 

 This is particularly the case with various species of deer in both 

 Europe and America. Mr. Charles F. Morrison records the killing of 

 a full-sized black-tailed deer (Odocoileus Tiemionus) in Montana, and 

 there are numerous accounts by other writers of attacks on crippled, 

 weak or sickly deer. Also the deer that are wounded by hunters 

 and that escape only to die are often devoured, and, on occasions 

 like the one in New Jersey recorded by Mr. John H. Sage, the eagle 

 gorges itself to such an extent that it can be killed with a club. The 

 number of fawns killed, particularly where deer are at all numerous, 

 must be large, for most observers unite in saying that fawns form 

 an important article of the golden eagle's food. The young of also 

 other ungulates, such as antelope, wild sheep, and reindeer, are some- 

 times taken. The shooting of a mountain goat or other large game 

 animal in a country where this eagle abounds frequently attracts 



