1990 THE DIURNAL BIRDS OF PREY 



and thus prevented the victim from having a moment's respite." That such a 

 sporting bird can deign to feed on carrion, seems surprising; nevertheless the golden 

 eagle will not only eat such garbage when pressed by hunger, but actually seems to 

 prefer it; and it is owing to this unsavory taste that these birds are so easily 

 approached and killed. In America the golden eagle, preys on marmots, prairie 

 marmots, wood rats, squirrels, and smaller rodents, as well as grouse, geese, ducks, 

 and wading birds; while more rarely it seizes the fawns of the prongbuck and vari- 

 ous deer, as well as lambs. A correspondent of Captain Bendire relates, on native 

 authority, that a golden eagle once struck down and killed a full-grown black-tailed 

 deer which had been badly wounded. In devouring their prey, these birds usually 

 swallow the smaller mammals, hair and all, although birds are generally previously 

 plucked. 



In Northern Europe the golden eagle begins to breed in March or the early 

 part of April, frequently while the ground is still covered with snow, and generally 

 occupies the same eyrie for many successive years. The nest is of large size and 

 composed of sticks, in the shape of a flattened platform, and lined with roots, dry 

 grass, heather, moss, or fern, but never in the Old World with feathers. In 

 Shetland, where sticks are scarce, the material may be long rope-like seaweed. It 

 appears that although in rocky districts the nests are situated on ledges of cliffs or 

 precipices, yet they are by no means always in inaccessible places. As the nest is 

 repaired year after year, it eventually attains an enormous size if its owners are un- 

 disturbed. A correspondent writing to Captain Bendire from Colorado states that 

 he has seen a nest over seven feet in height, and with a diameter of fully six feet, 

 which he estimated to contain two cart loads of material. In that State the old nests 

 are repaired as early as February; a bough of evergreen being invariably laid on 

 each, as if to mark its being occupied. In California the nests are always in trees; 

 and, although generally lined with vegetable substances, an instance has been ob- 

 served where the lining was of 'feathers, evidently from the breast of one of the 

 parents. One case is on record where a golden eagle built in Scotland in a tree. 

 During the breeding season each pair of golden eagles usually has a definite region 

 over which they hunt, and into which no others intrude. In Oregon the nests are 

 stated to be at distances of as much as twenty miles apart, although in California 

 from two to six miles is given as the width of the range of a pair of these 

 birds. The eggs are usually two in number, but may be three, while four 

 have been occasionally taken. Although fairly constant in size, they are subject 

 to extreme variation in color; some being pure white, while others are more 

 'or less blotched with shades of red or purplish brown. In Scotland the eggs are 

 commonly hatched in the latter part of April; the newly-born nestlings being 

 clothed in pure white down, which, however, is soon replaced by the dark first 

 plumage. 



With regard to its courage, Captain Bendire writes that "notwithstanding the 

 many sensational stories of the fierceness and prowess of the golden eagle, espe- 

 cially in the defense of its eyrie, from my own observations I must confess that, if 

 not an arrant coward, it certainly is the most indifferent bird in respect to the care 

 of its eggs and young I have ever seen. This may possibly be due more to utter 



