282 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



ground they beat a retreat at an awkward walk or, if neces- 

 sary, a run, taking wing only as a last resort, and even then 

 flying but a short distance before alighting. Their actions, 

 gait and positions, while on the ground are similar to those 

 of a buzzard. In flight, the light color on the primaries is 

 distinctly shown. 



During several consecutive days, a "Queleli" came to my 

 camp, searching for scraps of food. One day I saw him 

 making ofl*, at a walk, from the cook-house, carrying with 

 him a piece of bone from the leg of a goat, and upon which, 

 a little raw meat still adhered. With this bone, fully nine 

 inches in length, grasped firmly in his bill, he retired to 

 what he considered a safe distance before commencing his 

 feast. 



As far as my observations went, the birds were entirely 

 silent, but tlie agent informed me th^it when perchance a 

 rifle ball carried away a wing or a foot, the unfortunate bird 

 would scream long and loudly. If the wounded creature 

 happened to be in company with others of his kind, he 

 would be immediately attacked and killed. One which was 

 badly wounded attempted to escape by running, with the 

 assistance of his wings. Being overtaken and brought to 

 bay, instead of throwing himself on his back in an attitude 

 of defence, or uttering a cry for quarter, he raised his crest 

 and with an air of defiance, calmly awaited death as became 

 the Eagle of Guadalupe. Weakened by the loss of blood 

 which poured from a wound in his throat, he finally fell for- 

 ward and died — silent and defiant to the last. 



If a goat was killed and not immediately taken to camp, 

 the hunter was almost certain to find upon his return that a 

 "Queleli" (rarely more than one) had taken possession of 

 the carcass. 



Their food during the season of caterpillars consists 

 almost entirely of these larvae, with a slight variation 

 afforded by occasional beetles and crickets. Whenever op- 

 portunity offers they are ready to gorge themselves upon 



