342 BULLETIN 16 7, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



while the other eaglet, drawing nearer, with head extended, watches the feed- 

 ing bird and seldom venturing to interfere, patiently awaits its turn. 



He relates (1924c) another instance as follows: 



After a repast of a quarter of an hour the first Eaglet gave w'liy to the 

 other bird which laid hold of the prey with one talon, dragged it aside and 

 set to work; not feeling satisfied, however, the first bird went after the 

 chicken again, but was immediately warned off. For two minutes they stood, 

 with wings raised, facing each other, like fighting cockerels, until the bird 

 which had taken first chance by an adroit thrust snatched the chicken with 

 one talon and, dragging it to the opposite side of the nest, began treading 

 it with both feet ; after each hasty mouthful it glanced around to watch its 

 nest-mate. The robbed bird stood still, as if dazed, for some moments, and 

 after having fiapped a few times settled down to watch for another opening; 

 with lowered head it moved very slowly towards the feeding bird, following 

 its every movement intently, and now an interesting thing happened : the 

 Eaglet that was feeding tore out pieces of the flesh and intestines and thrice 

 offered them to Eaglet number two who received them in bill and deposited 

 them at his feet without swallowing a morsel. He was not to be thus beguiled, 

 however ; watching his chance, he seized the wliole carcass and having deposited 

 it beside the proffered pieces went to feeding in earnest. 



With the growth of the first plumage, when about a month old, 

 the eaglet spends much time preening its new feathers and gradually 

 disposing of its old gray down. 



At this stage preening was the order of the day and for a week or more 

 the young "bird o' freedom" presented a most ragged and disreputable appear- 

 ance. When thus actively engaged, and with the eyes often closed, the light 

 down was sent flying to the breeze ; gray fluffy sprigs of their natal covering 

 were clinging to all parts of the nest, to neighboring trees, and when the wind 

 was right at a later time, some of it even floated into our tent. A pair of 

 House Sparrows, which were then nesting in the side of the eyrie, were most 

 diligent in collecting this treasured down, and in early June one would see 

 these little vagabonds steal up to the edge of the nest, snatch a few coveted 

 sprigs and hurry back to their retreat. 



With the increase in size and strength comes an increase in activity, 

 with more time devoted to play and exercise in preparation for 

 flight. Activities begin by walking or jumping about the nest, which 

 soon becomes trodden quite flat, picking up and playing with sticks, 

 learning to grasp objects in the talons, and stretching and flapping 

 their growing wings. With tail raised and head lowered the eaglet 

 backs up to the edge of the nest and shoots its liquid excreta clear of 

 the nest to form a "whitewashed" circle on the ground below. Later 

 on the flight exercises begin in earnest, of which Dr. Herrick (1924c) 

 writes : 



After a while a simple routine is established — raising the wings until they 

 seem to touch over the back, taking a few strokes and jumping; the flapping 

 gradually comes to take their feet above the floor of the eyrie and at eight 

 weeks of age they may be able to rise two feet or more in the air ; this ability 

 attained, they are liable to go higher and higher and in a fairly stiff breeze, 

 which helps to sustain if not to stimulate them, they begin to soar and hover. 



