100 General Notes. 



and I was not aware of its being a distinct variety for a considerable time. 

 I cannot at present say certainly whether var. crinitus breeds here, but am 

 inclined to think that it occurs only in the spring and autumn. 



A set of eggs, identified by the capture of one of the parents, was taken 

 on the 10th of May, 1877. The nest was placed in the end of a broken 

 branch of an anacahuite tree, about ten feet from the ground ; it was made 

 of locks of wool and hairs, and contained five eggs slightly advanced. 

 These measure .94 x .69. Besides this identified nest two others were 

 found, but, thinking at the time that they were of true crinitus, I did not 

 shoot the parents. Of these, one was taken, May 14, in an old excava- 

 tion of Centurus aurifrons, and contained three fresh eggs. They are larger 

 than those of the first set (1.01X0.70), the ground-color darker, and the 

 markings heavier. The third nest was in a hollow stump less than two 

 feet from the ground, and on June 4 contained six young. 



It is worthy of note that no snake-skins were used in the construction 

 of these nests. — J. C. Merrill, M. D., Assistant Surgeon, U. S. A., 

 Fort Broivn, Texas. 



[I have carefully compared the two sets of the eggs of M. erythroceriis, 

 here referred to, with sets of M. crinitus, M. cinerascens, M. coopcri, and 

 M. stoUdus. These all have a strong family resemblance, those of the 

 erythrocercus being distinguishable by larger size and much greater abun- 

 dance of large confluent blotches of lilac and purplish brown. The eggs 

 described in North American Birds (Vol. II, p. ,339) as those of M. cine- 

 rascens undoubtedly are really eggs of this species. — T. M. Brewer.] 



The Golden Eagle in the Hudson Highlands. — This splendid 

 bird, which was formerly quite characteristic of this wild mountainous 

 region, is now becoming quite scarce. It was formerly known to nest upon 

 the clitfs on the west side of the Hudson, north of West Point ; and it is 

 still a problem whether at least one pair do not still breed there. 



I have never been able to discover any nest, though I have carefully ex- 

 amined each of the three principal ledges lying between West Point and 

 Cornwall ; but tliese cliff's are so vast and inaccessible, that it is impossible 

 to examine them satisfactorily from either top or bottom, even with the 

 aid of a good glass. As I have seldom undertaken these fatiguing excur- 

 sions during their breeding season, I have not ascertained the fact of their 

 presence there at that season ; but in winter I have occasionally seen a 

 single individual flying near the top of the mountains. 



Several years ago, a Golden Eagle was shot opposite those clitfs by a 

 farmer at Cold Spring, while in the act of destroying a goose belonging to 

 the farmer, 



A few days since, through the kindness of my friends. Professor Eobert 

 Donald and Mr. Sanford R. Knapp, of Peekskill, I examined a finely 

 mounted specimen of this Eagle, in the possession of the latter gentleman. 

 It was in the plumage of the young male (the basal two-thirds of the tail 



