THE GOLDEN EAGLE 143 



Measurements. Length, about 30 inches ; wing, 23 to 26 inches ; 

 tail, 14 to 16 inches. 



Range. In North America from Alaska to Mexico and eastward 

 even as far as Maine; more common in the western part of the 

 United States. Straggling more or less regularly into Iowa. 



The Golden Eagle is not a rare bird in Iowa, though not common 

 at any place nor at any time. 



Authors generally speak of its occurrence in this and neighboring 

 states in the winter, but I incline to the belief, with Mr. R. M. An- 

 derson, that the greater number of birds are observed during the 

 early spring and late fall months. 



N. S. Goss mentions the difference in spirit between the Golden 

 and Bald Eagles in captivity, the former remaining untamed, while 

 the latter becomes docile. He states that the former rejected food 

 which was in the least tainted, while the latter bird ate such food un- 

 hesitatingly. 



A beautiful Golden Eagle was captured about two miles west of 

 Burr Oak, Iowa, in November, 1914. The bird had seized a full 

 grown chicken in each foot; when, its claws becoming entangled in 

 the meshes of some chicken wire, a boy drew the wire over the eagle 

 so as to capture it. 



The Golden Eagle has not been reported as nesting in Iowa. In 

 the west, where it is common, it chooses a site on rugged cliffs 

 rather than in trees, though the latter are occasionally utilized. 



A. K. Fisher reports that "The food consists mainly of mammals 

 and birds, of which spermophiles, rabbits, fawns, lambs, turkeys, 

 grouse, waterfowl and other large birds form the principal part, 

 though offal and carrion are sometimes taken." 



In the sheep-grazing areas of the west, these eagles destroy consid- 

 erable numbers of lambs, but in Iowa their depredations are chiefly 

 confined to wildfowl and poultry. The numbers of rabbits, gophers, 

 groundhogs and other rodents, however, destroyed in this section of 

 its range, more than repay the farmer for protecting these noble 

 birds. 



