214 BIRDS IN THEIR RELATIONS TO MAN. 



the winter months, their food relations are somewhat modified, 

 as is indicated by the following extract, written by Dr. William 

 L. Ralph and published in Bendire s u Life Histories of North 

 American Birds." Speaking of a community of bald eagles 

 in the vicinity of Merritt Island, he says : " These eagles seern 

 to breed earlier than those in other parts of Florida, due no 

 doubt to the immense number of water-fowl, especially coots 

 (Fulica americana?), that frequent this vicinity during the 

 winter, and which form the principal part of their food, 

 though they will sometimes condescend to eat fish, like their 

 more northern brothers and sisters. I have often seen them 

 catch wounded birds, and I visited one nest that contained in 

 addition to two well-grown young birds the remains of thir- 

 teen coots and one catfish." 



The GOLDEN EAGLE inhabits mountainous districts through- 

 out the country, though it is more common West than in the 

 East, where it is rare, owing to the denser population. 



It preys on grouse, ducks, hares, ground-squirrels, and 

 other creatures of similar size, and occasionally troubles 

 sheep-owners by carrying off young lambs. Sometimes it 

 eats carrion, but probably only when pressed by hunger. 



The thrilling stories told of the fierceness of this eagle are 

 not credited by those who have invaded its nests ; yet its 

 power is unquestioned. An instance is recorded in which 

 one throttled and killed a black-tailed deer that had been 

 crippled by a hunter. 



If this were an abundant species, it would plainly be a 

 harmful one ; but, owing to its scarcity, its depredations are 

 generally insignificant. 



THE KITES. 



The kites are a branch of the hawk family especially noted 

 for the ease and elegance of their flight. The commonest 

 arid most widely diffused species is the SWALLOW-TAILED KITE, 

 which has a geographf^l^-ange from Pennsylvania to Minne- 

 sota and steward. Six stomachs of this kite opened by 



