450 



PREYING BIRDS — RAl'TORES. 



secondarifs purplisli-brnwii ; tiliia' ami tarsi lirowiiisU-fiilvous, generally mixed with dark 

 ashy. 



Yuuiigei: Entire jilmnage lighter, and mixed witli dull tidvous ; under parts of budy 

 nearly uniform with ujiper. 



A. Chri/SfSlos.^ 



nwuVv 



Length, 30.00 to 40.00; wing, 20.00 to 25.00; tail, 12.00 to 15.00. L'is brown; bill 

 liorn-eolor ; cere and feet yellow. 

 Ilab. All of North America. 



This iiolile liird is quite common in almost all parts of tlie State ilnring 

 the colder months, Imt nuich less si.i than the white-lieadetl eagle. They 

 are, however, more of a mountain liird, and their descents into the plains or 

 to the sea-coast are not freipient. Nuttall observed them ahout the lofty 

 cliffs of the Upper Missouri, and says tliat they huilt on a I'oeky liluff, and 

 laid two, or rarely three eggs, white blotched with reddish. These measiu'e 

 3.50 X 2. .50 inches, according to Audulion. They prey on young fawns, 

 lambs, hares, etc. Eecent authors declare that there is not the least differ- 

 ence between European and American specimens. 



* The European Ai/iiiln chri/salos is not in a cut distinguishable from the American bird. 



