148 LAND BIRDS 
Nest: Of sticks; lined with roots or fibre, placed in trees or ledges of 
cliffs from 25 to 50 feet high. 
Eggs: 2 or 3; dull whitish, plain or marked with shades of brown. 
Size 2.36 X 1.80. 
THE Western Red-tail is common, though not very 
abundant, throughout the wooded mountainous districts 
of the central portion of the State. On the road from 
Tallac to Lake Valley several were seen, and one nest 
was found in a coniferous tree thirty feet from the 
ground. The climber sent up to investigate shouted 
back that there were four young nearly ready to fly. 
Being told to bring one down, he picked one out of the 
nest, but it bit his finger, and angrily he hurled it out 
into the air. Fluttering, turning over and over, down it 
came; but the fall did not hurt it much, and as soon as 
it could catch its breath it fought like a little fury. It 
was a handsome bird, nearly feathered, and in a week 
more would have flown of its own accord. It fluttered 
about on the grass, and after resting a time managed to 
scramble into a low bush, where it felt more secure 
though it was really much more exposed. In the mean- 
time the adults had circled wildly about with discordant 
screams, and the mother still remained near. Curious to 
see how she would manage to get that unlucky young- 
ster back into his nest, we moved off fifty yards and 
watched through the glasses. Both parents swooped 
down and looked at him, from on the wing, again and 
again, screaming when away, but silent whenever near 
him or the nest. At length a more sudden swoop and 
a momentary flutter, as a butterfly flutters over a flower. 
Then she rose carefully and slowly, with the young in 
SESE TO a eg A GLO. att Te 
