NORTHERN BALD EAGLE 341 



eaglet lives to grow up. The young hatch at intervals of a few days 

 and the first one hatched, often the female, is larger and stronger 

 than the other. The larger eaglet often abuses the smaller one and 

 gets more than its share of the food, until the poor little one suc- 

 cumbs and dies of weakness and exposure. Dr. Herrick (1932) 

 writes : 



Two eaglets were hatched in that season mi about April 24 and 28, and 

 the younger bird was handicapped not only on account of its lesser age, but 

 from the tempestuous weather and the shower of abuse it daily received from 

 its older companion. The mother eagle constantly disregarded the needs of 

 its puny infant, but bestowed every attention on her more vociferous offspring. 

 Thus, on May 18, when the eagle brought in a large fish, the older nestling 

 got 76 pieces, but the younger only 2, and a bad drubbing from his nest-mate 

 in the bargain. On the following day rain and hail beat so relentlessly on 

 the great nest that this much abused eaglet, then hardly able to crawl beneath 

 the sheltering wings of its mother, finally succumbed and was trampled into 

 the great mass of withered grass that lined its bed. It should be noticed 

 that this harsh treatment of the younger bird had often occurred when the 

 parent was away and when there was no contest over the food. 



Both parents bring food to the nest and both assist in feeding 

 the young. Dr. Herrick (1929) describes the process as follows: 



The female eagle has been brooding her callow young, which are now in 

 white down and about two weeks old. She deliberately rises, walks over to 

 the carcass of a large fish, stands on it and begins tearing off small pieces of 

 the flesh and passing them to the three eaglets, which line up before her. 



Twenty minutes later the male drops on the eyrie and immediately joins 

 his mate in the work of satisfying the appetites of their hungry brood. The 

 old eagles bend to their task and pass up bits of food at the rate of about 

 five to the minute. At least the passes are at this rate, but the proffered food 

 is not always taken. It may indeed go the rounds, to be eaten finally by one 

 of the old birds. [PI. 93.] 



When the eaglets are older and strong enough to tear up their 

 own food, they are taught to do so. A family feast, presided over 

 by the mother eagle, who has just arrived with a fish, is thus 

 described by the same observer (1929) : 



Her young, all aquiver with excitement, continue to crouch and squeal, 

 with their wings half spread, but they seldom venture to advance. The old 

 bird now seizes her quarry, which appears to be a lake catfish of about four 

 pounds in weight, and with one foot drags it to the center of the nest. 



Standing on it there, she begins ripping it up without further ceremony. 

 With swift thrusts of her bill she detaches large pieces of the white fiesh and, 

 taking a glance around at each upward stroke, swallows them in rapid suc- 

 cession. Then to the nearest bird, which by this time has edged up to its 

 parent, she passes several pieces from bill to bill, and goes to work again on 

 her own account. 



When eaglet number two has been served in the same fashion, she moves 

 a few steps away ; whereupon number one seizes the carcass and, spreading 

 over it, claims it as his own. Squealing, with head down, but for some 

 moments without touching a morsel, he warns all intruders away. Mean- 



