334 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



make it their permanent place of resort. This is also true, probably, wher- 

 ever this Eagle remains througliout the year. Mr. T. H. Jackson, of West 

 Chester, Pa., informs me that he met with three fresh eggs of this species in 

 Maryland, on the 11th of February, 1871. 



The eggs are usually two, sometimes three or four, in number ; they are 

 nearly spherical, equally rounded at either end, and more or less granulated 

 on their surface. Their color is a dull white, unspotted, but often stained by 

 incubation to a dirty white or a light soiled drab. Two eggs in my collection 

 present the following measurements : Length 3 inches, breadth 2.75 ; length 

 2.88 inches, breadth 2.80. The first was obtained in New Jersey by Alex- 

 ander Wilson, the ornithologist ; the latter by Dr. Trudeau, in Louisiana. 



Another, taken from a nest in Texas by Dr. Heermann, measured 2.80 by 

 2.20 inches. A fourth, from Sitka, measures 2.75 by 2.25 inches. These 

 measurements, so far as they may be taken as typical, exhibit but little varia- 

 tion in size between the most northern and the most southern specimens. 



Several nests were met with and the eggs taken by Mr. MacFarlane near 

 Anderson Eiver. They were generally built in high trees not far from river- 

 banks. In a few instances the parents made hostile demonstrations when 

 their nests were robbed, but generally kept at a safe distance, uttering loud 

 and discordant sounds. The nests were built of dry sticks and decayed 

 branches, and lined with deer's hair, mosses, hay, aiM other similar soft mate- 

 rials. 



Mr. Dall was informed by the Indians that this species breeds among the 

 Alaskan mountains on inaccessible cliffs. This statement, however, may 

 have had reference to the Golden EaQ;le. 



Falro covmrimis (Europe), p. 138. 



