396 RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. 



the Atlantic States, is found in all parts of California. From 

 the tip of the bill to the end of the tail it is about thirty 

 inches long, and six feet from tip to tip of the outstretched 

 wings. The head and neck are bare, covered with a bright- 

 red wrinkled skin. The plumage commences below that, with 

 a circular ruff of projecting feathers. The color of the plum- 

 age is black, with a purplish lustre, many of the feathers hav- 

 ing a pale border. The bill is yellowish in color. 



314. Eagles. The golden eagle (Aquila canadensis) in- 

 habits California, and indeed all parts of North America. Its 

 length is thirty or forty inches ; its color on the head and neck 

 is yellowish brown, white at the base of the tail, and brown, 

 varying to purplish brown and black, elsewhere. 



The bald eagle (Halioetus leucocephalos) was abundant in 

 California ten years ago, and is still often seen along the Sac- 

 ramento, San Joaquin, and Klamath Rivers. It frequents rap- 

 ids for the purpose of catching fish, which seem to furnish the 

 larger part of its food. It is from thirty to forty inches long, 

 white on the head, and at the base of the tail, and brownish 

 black on the breast, wings, and back. 



The fish-hawk (Pandion carolinensis) is found along all our 

 large rivers. It is from twenty to twenty-five inches long. The 

 head and under parts are white, with pale yellowish-brown spots 

 on the breast, the back, wings, and tail are dark brown. 



The goshawk (Astur atricapillus) is of the same size with 

 the fish-hawk, and in color is dark a bluish slate above, and 

 mottled-white and light ashy-brown beneath. 



There are seventeen other hawks in the State, most of them 

 small and rare. 



315. Owls. California has nine species of owls, namely : 

 the barn, great-horned, screech, long-eared, short-eared, great 

 gray, saw-whet, burrowing, and pigmy owls. All of them are 

 found extensively on the continent, beyond the limits of our 

 State, and all save the last two are common east of the Missis- 

 sippi. 



