314 BULLETIN 16 7, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



West to Lower California (San Quentin, San Fernando, and La 

 Grulla) ; California (San Diego, Escondido, Santa Barbara, Santa 

 Lucia Peak, Sur, Salinas, Watsonville, Santa Cruz, Nicasio, and 

 probably Mount St. Helena) ; Oregon (Swan Lake, Fort Klamath, 

 probably near Tillamook, and probably Astoria) ; Washington 

 (Mount Rainier, Cascade Mountains, and Wrights Peak) ; British 

 Columbia (Ducks, Bear Creek, and Nine-mile-mountain) ; and 

 Alaska (probably Bethel, St. Michael, and Solomon). 



It should not be understood that the golden eagle breeds through- 

 out the vast area above outlined. The range is, in fact, discontinu- 

 ous, as this species is chiefly a bird of the mountains, particularly 

 of the western ranges. In the eastern part of the country it is loiown 

 to nest only in the mountainous sections while breeding records are 

 almost or entirely lacking from the Great Plains. It occurs regularly 

 in Virginia and West Virginia in the mountains, though in recent 

 years only in migration, so far as known. 



Migration. — Eagles are sometimes found long distances from their 

 breeding areas, while others will brave the winter in high latitudes. 

 The species is known to winter casually north almost to the north- 

 ern limits of its breeding range, and it is not known south of the 

 southern parts of this range. Nevertheless, most of the northern 

 breeding birds do withdraw southward during the winter season. 

 Its movements appear to be wanderings rather than true migratory 

 flights. Such travels are apparently influenced largely by the avail- 

 able food supply, and to some extent eagles will follow the migra- 

 tions of other birds when these are being hunted for food, in conse- 

 quence of which it is a fairly regular winter visitor in many large 

 regions of its general breeding range where it is not known to nest. 



Failure of the hares or other food is probably the cause of the 

 appearance of relatively large numbers of eagles even in recent years. 

 The low eastern ranges of the Appalachians in eastern Pennsylvania 

 and New Jersey are thus still frequented by the golden eagle in migi'a- 

 tion, especially in autumn. Thus during 1935 (Broun, 1936) a total 

 of 66 individuals were observed at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary near 

 Drehersville, Pa. 



Golden eagles have been noted to arrive on their breeding grounds 

 in the North as follows : Yukon — Forty Mile, April 5 ; Alaska — St. 

 Michael (probably winters casually), March 10; Kigluaik Mountains, 

 March 27 ; Coal Plarbor, April 3 ; and Mount ;McKinley, April 8. 



They have been observed to leave in autumn from Alaska (Mount 

 McKinley) on September 21, and Yukon (Plateau Mountain) on 

 September 23. 



Casual records. — Occasionally in winter golden eagles are de- 

 tected in the Southeastern United States. There are several records 

 for this section of the country, among which are the following : Five 



