590 HISTORY OF PASADENA. 



from the Colorado river to the Columbia west of the Rocky Mountains, and 

 curiously enough, does not, as far as known, enter Mexico. The strength 

 and power of the bird is almost beyond belief. Four adults have been seen 

 to drag the body of a grizzly weighing over a thousand pounds, two 

 hundred yards. The California condor possesses many of the characteristics 

 of its ally of the Andes. It sights its prey from a vast height, and soars, 

 especially before storms, to great altitudes. Its flight is regular and beauti- 

 ful, the bird presenting a magnificent appearance when on the wing. The 

 nest is composed of a few sticks thrown together carelessly. It rarely if 

 ever attacks living animals. The bird is rare in the San Gabriel valley, and 

 the present specimen is an unusually fine one, a young male in complete 

 plumage, and perhaps three or four years old." 



In 1878 E. W. Giddings shot one of these birds, and it measured ten 

 feet three inches from tip to tip of the wings. [See footnote, page 129.] It 

 is almost identical with the lammergeyer of the Alps, in Europe. 



Hawks. — We have seven species of hawks and probably more. All 

 the larger species are commonly called chicken hawks, and are needlessly 

 shot as enemies of the poultry yard, while in reality they do a vast amount 

 of good in destroying mice and squirrels, and should be protected. The 

 smallest and commonest one is the sparrow hawk. It is abundant every- 

 where except in town, and breeds in the arroyos. It subsists mainly on 

 insects and mice, and is consequently very useful. 



Eagle. — The golden eagle is the only eagle found here; but down 

 along the coast the bald eagle is sometimes seen. The golden eagle is com- 

 mon in the Pasadena mountains, and often comes down to the highlands 

 and along the foot-hills. 



Owi,. — The owl family is represented by eight species. The best 

 known of these is the barn owl, golden owl, or "monkey-faced owl," as it 

 is variously termed. Its natural home is in the woods, where it lives in 

 hollow trees ; but in many instances it has taken up its abode in steeples 

 and towers. Last year [1893] ^ pair raised a brood in the belfry of the Uni- 

 versaHst church, and another pair took possession of the Wilson school 

 tower. The barn owl is a very odd-appearing bird. It has a peculiar habit 

 of wagging its head from side to side when closely watched. It is often 

 caged, and makes a curious pet.* Our largest owl is the western horned 

 owl. They do not stay in holes in trees, but roost in thick foliage or on the 

 ground in shady places, coming out towards evening. The burrowing owl is 

 a queer little bird which lives out in the open fields, and which makes its home 

 in holes in the ground. The dry, level poppy fields above Altadena are 

 favorite resorts of this owl. There they may be seen standing at the en- 

 trances to their burrows, or flying low over the ground. If disturbed, they 

 usually run down the holes, and may then be dug out. They lay their eggs 



*Mrs. A. P. Janney on East Union street kept a pet owl for four years. It was so tame that it 

 stooa on a perch in the open room, like a parrot, and would mnke re.sporsire motions ond noises when 

 She talked to it. When the Woman's Relief Corps held a Fair in Williams hall, in 1892, this pet owl 

 was among the curiosities on exhibition. 



