Vol. XXII "1 Cameron, Nesting of the Golden Eagle. l6l 



igo5 J ° J 



Although previously very wild he now became as tame as his 

 mate and would mount to the small point of projecting rock, which 

 shows plainly in some photographs, while I stood below watching 

 him. Here he cast a shadow on the south side of the eyrie into 

 which the eaglets hastily scrambled, pressing close up against the 

 rock wall under his tail in their eagerness to enjoy the shade. 

 The eagle, being naturally uneasy, would turn about on his pedes- 

 tal, and regard first the nestlings and then me with that cruel gaze 

 characteristic of his tribe. Powerful binoculars showed every 

 motion at a height where the camera was useless. After the June 

 rains incomparable contrasts of red and green were here presented, 

 vermilion lava-strewn rocks nestling in verdure, and covered 

 with yellow flowers and vetches, while tall cream-colored soap- 

 weeds swayed under the divides. 



No trace of food was visible before the eaglets were hatched, 

 but after their arrival the nest always contained either grouse 

 (Pedioecetes phasianellus columbianus), jack-rabbits, cotton-tails, 

 mountain rats, meadowlarks, or snakes. (Plate IV.) Sometimes, 

 indeed, the putrid remains of all these creatures contaminated the 

 air. The fur of the hares was removed, and the birds plucked 

 clean, before the eaglets were allowed to partake of them, but 

 while mammals and snakes were generally decapitated, the birds 

 were seldem thus treated. No carrion was ever taken to the eyrie, 

 although I knew of 80 cattle carcasses round about, and prairie 

 dogs were also disdained. As I never visited the eyrie without 

 finding a Sharp-tailed Grouse the eagles must levy severe toll on 

 this species, more especially in June when the hens are sitting on 

 from 10 to 15 eggs. On the other hand the eagles captured num- 

 bers of rattlesnakes. According to eye-witnesses they feint sev- 

 eral times at the snake to make it uncoil and seize it just behind 

 the head with one foot, while gripping it further back with the 

 other. The snake is then taken to a tree or rock and the head 

 torn off, which according to one observer is immediately devoured, 

 before the body is deposited in the eyrie. It is possible that the 

 wing is also used as a shield, after the manner of the African Sec- 

 retary Bird, but, in any case, I doubt if the rattlesnake could bite 

 through the bird's thick feathers. The eagles hunted in the early 

 morning or on cool, cloudy days, one, or both, always shading the 

 young from the sun on hot afternoons. 



