B/RDS'-NESTS. 1 33 



The rarest of all nests is that of the eagle, because 

 the eagle is the rarest of all birds. Indeed so seldom 

 is the eagle seen that its presence always seems acci- 

 dental. It appears as if merely pausing on the way, 

 while bound for some distant unknown region. One 

 September, while a youth, I saw the ring-tailed eagle, 

 an immense, dusky bird, the sight of which filled me 

 with awe. It lingered about the hills for two days. 

 Some young cattle, a two-year-old colt, and half a 

 dozen sheep were at pasture on a high ridge that led 

 up to the mountain, and in plain view of the house. 

 On the second day this dusky monarch was seen flying 

 about above them. Presently he began to hover over 

 them, after the manner of a hawk watching for mice. 

 He then with extended legs let himself slowly down 

 upon them, actually grappling the backs of the young 

 cattle, and frightening the creatures so that they rushed 

 about the field in great consternation ; and finally, as 

 he grew bolder and more frequent in his descents, the 

 whole herd broke over the fence and came tearing 

 down to the house " like mad." It did not seem to be 

 an assault with intent to kill, but was perhaps a strate- 

 gem resorted to in order to separate the herd and ex- 

 pose the lambs, which hugged the cattle very closely. 

 When he occasionally alighted upon the oaks that stood 

 near, the branch could be seen to sway and bend be- 

 neath him. Finally, as a rifleman started out in pur- 

 suit of him, he launched into the air, set his wings, 

 and sailed away southward. A few years afterward, in 



