164 THE WILSON BULLETIN— December, 1921 



through their coats of white down. The condition of the 

 young and the nesting site being ideal for our proposed 

 group for the Milwaukee Public Museum, a return trip was 

 made next day, with Mr. George Shrosbree, Chief Taxider- 

 mist of the institution, and Mr. E. D. Ochsner of Prairie 

 du Sac, well equipped with ropes and other paraphernalia. 

 Our first move called for the collection of the feinale, and 

 this pair, whose existence depended on eternal vigilance, 

 were extremely wary and would not come near if they sus- 

 pected any one was present. They invariably perched upon 

 a commanding point of rocli, however, on their trips to 

 and from the nesting ledge. Covering this favored spot 

 with the shotgun, I remained concealed for four hours un- 

 der a pile of juniper limbs on a nearby ledge before tlie 

 magnificent bird finally returned and was secured. P.y 

 this time night was fast approaching so the comparatively 

 easy descent was made to the nesting ledge and the young 

 collected. This spot, so offensive to the nose, pleased the 

 eye, both on account of the beautiful panorama spread be- 

 low, and the immediate environment. Clumps of flowering 

 Columbine grew on little used parts of the ledge and in 

 nearby crevices, as well as Alumroot, (lolden Kagwort and 

 Broad-leafed Panic Grass. Scattered about were remains 

 of Mourning Doves, Blue Jays, Green Heron (whole head 

 and neck) and others. For a time nearly a pint of corn 

 and ground feed proved mystifying, till I happened to 

 think of the crops of domestic poultry! Tlie stomach of 

 the female, later examined, contained the remains of three 

 young chickens. 



The eyrie was about twenty-five feet from the (op and 

 a hundred from the bottom. These young falcons Avere 

 without exception the most savage youngsters I ever en- 

 countered, biting and clawing at every opportunity, and 

 their harsh screams, similar to those of the adult, were 

 deafening at such close quarters. It is interesting to note, 

 however, that they kept perfectly quiet for hours at a time 

 while their parents were absent on hunting forays, but de- 

 tected their approach at a great distance and screamed 

 lustily. 



