Birds of PEirasYLVANiA. 93 



some thirty feet from the ground, and was composed entirely of sticks, 

 averaging about one-half an inch in diameter ; interior made up of 

 small sticks or twigs. The general appearance of the nest was as if 

 it had been crushed. Eggs measure respectivel}^ 2.35 X 1.79 and 

 2.40 X 1.83. Ground color, white, marked or rather clouded near the 

 larger end with brown and lavender, with a few dark-brown pencil- 

 ings." 



" It is a sluggish bird, and confines itself to the meadows and low 

 grounds bordering the rivers and salt marshes along our bays and 

 inlets. In such places, you may see it perched on a stake, where it 

 remains for hours at a time, unless some wounded bird comes in sight, 

 when it sails after it, and secures it without manifesting much swift- 

 ness of flight. It feeds principally on moles, mice, and other small 

 quadrupeds, and never attacks a duck on the wing, although now and 

 then it pursues a wounded one. When not alarmed, it usually flies 

 low and sedately, and does not exhibit any of the courage and vigor 

 so conspicuous in most other hawks, suffering thousands of birds to 

 pass without pursuing them. The greatest feat I have seen it per- 

 form was scrambling at the edge of the water to secure a lethargic 

 frog. They alight on trees to roost, but appear so hungry or indolent 

 at all times that they seldom retire to rest until after dusk. T-heir 

 large eyes, indeed, seem to indicate their possession of the faculty of 

 seeing at that late hour. I have frequently put up one that seemed 

 watching for food at the edge of a ditch long after sunset. Whenever 

 an opportunity offers, they eat to excess, and, like the Turkey Buz- 

 zards and Carrion Crows, disgorge their food, to enable themselves to 

 fly off. The species is more nocturnal in its habits than any other 

 hawk found in the United States. The number of meadow mice 

 which this species destroys ought, one might think, to secure it the 

 protection of every husbandman." — Audubon. 



In the stomachs of eleven of these hawks, which I have examined, 

 were found only field-mice. 



Genus AQUILA. Brisson. 

 349. Aquila chrysaetos (Linn.). 



Golden Eagle. 



This large bird is found throughout most of North America, and 

 occurs in Pennsylvania only as an occasional winter visitant. The 

 only species with which it is sometimes confounded is the Bald or 

 White-headed Eagle in immature plumage. The two species can al- 

 ways be distinguished at a single glance, if yow remember that the 

 Golden Eagle has the tarsus densely feathered to the toes, and the 

 Bald Eagle has a hare tarsus. The Golden Eagle measures 3 feet or 



