294 ANIMAL LIFE IN THE YOSEMITE 



We have no information concerning the food of the Golden Eagle in 

 the Yosemite region ; but we surmise that this bird of prey takes toll from 

 a number of the medium-sized kinds of mammals. The captive bird 

 at Pleasant Valley afforded us an opportunity to learn something of the 

 manner in which an eagle handles its food. When offered a dead ground 

 squirrel this eagle seized it in one foot, dragged it about in the earth at 

 the bottom of the cage for several minutes and then began to eat it. It 

 dug into the squirrel's skull with its strong beak, tore it apart and 

 swallowed the fragments bone and all. The skin and hair were eaten 

 with avidity, but the entrails were carefully avoided. 



Prairie Falcon. Falco mexicanus Schlegel 



Field cJiara cters.— M-udh larger than Sparrow Hawk, the body being somewhat larger 

 than that of Band-tailed Pigeon; wings long and pointed; tail relatively small (pi. 44j). 

 A narrow black streak down each side of face below eye and a brownish patch behind 

 eye; upper surface pale brown obscurely barred; under surface white, spotted or 

 narrowly streaked with dark brown on sides and belly. 



Occurrence. — Visitant in fall at higher altitudes; possibly resident in small numbers 

 in the arid territory east of Sierran crest. Observed by us only at Vogelsang Lake, 

 August 31 to September 4, 1915, and above Ten Lakes, October 10, 1915. Ordinarily 

 prefers the vicinity of cliffs adjacent to open country. 



The Prairie Falcon is far larger than the Sparrow Hawk which, how- 

 ever, it closely resembles in form. It has, indeed, nearly the bulk of the 

 Duck Hawk, but it is paler in color than either of these other falcons. 

 In habits it closely resembles the Duck Hawk, with which, save for the 

 difference in coloration, it might be confused. 



We saw representatives of this species at only two places in the Yosemite 

 region, as noted above; but individuals or pairs are likely to be met with 

 anywhere in the more arid parts of the region, from the crest of the main 

 Sierra Nevada eastward. The individual seen repeatedly near Vogelsang 

 Lake, when on the wing showed plainly the glistening white forward under 

 surface which is distinctive of this falcon alone; occasionally it hovered 

 with beating wings like a Sparrow Hawk. It does not seem likely that 

 even a novice could confuse the pale-colored Prairie Falcon with any other 

 raptorial species. (See pi. 44.) 



Duck Hawk. Falco peregriniis anatum Bonaparte 



Field characters. — Smaller than Eed-tailed Hawk, with long slender wings and 

 narrow, relatively short tail. Whole coloration very dark appearing; a broad black band 

 down each side of head below eye. Upper surface dark bluish or brownish black; lower 

 surface heavily barred with black on a light ground in adults, and heavily streaked 

 with black on buff in immatures. 



