BIRDS OF PREY 155 
Eggs: 2 or 3: whitish, marked with heavy blotches, spots, and specks 
of brown, lilac, and gray, most abundant at the longer end. Size 
2:96 X 2.27. 
THe Golden Eagle is by no means a rare bird in Cal- 
ifornia. He breeds in the mountains of Santa Cruz 
County and at many other localities throughout the 
State. Fortunately, the nest is usually placed in such 
an inaccessible location as seldom to fall a victim to 
collectors. It is a large structure, nearly five feet in 
diameter and several feet deep, lined with stubble, grass, 
gs, and placed in the top of a sycamore, 
and leafy twig 
pine, or oak, overhanging a rocky cafion. The two eggs 
vary from unmarked white to heavily marked with red, 
brown, and purple. ‘Three and a half weeks are required 
for cubation, and the young remain in the nest nearly 
six weeks after they are hatched, so that, although the 
egos. may be laid in March, the first of June often finds 
young in the nest. A pair whose record I have, began 
sitting March 26, and the young were newly hatched 
April 22. On June 14 they were still in the nest, but 
June 16 both had left. This nest was in a live-oak on 
the crest of a ridge in Santa Clara County, and had been 
built new that year. Rabbits, grouse, and many small 
quadrupeds were carried to the nest, as well as several 
good-sized snakes. [I saw no lambs, fawns, or fish, but 
several times the male brought what looked to be young 
foxes or coyotes. Meal-time came twice or three times 
a day, never oftener. This pair hunted together, leaving 
the young unguarded hour after hour, but I believe they 
were always kept in range of the mother’s keen eye, 
however far away she seemed to be. Early in the morn- 
