The Kadiak Bear and his Home 



hay on top. The big birds circled about us all the 

 time, but did not offer to attack. Bald-headed 

 eagles are very common on Kadiak, and are always 

 found about the salmon streams later, during the 

 run, being good fishermen. It seems they, of all 

 the birds here, are the first to lay their eggs, and 

 their young are the last to leave the nest. 



We secured some eagle eggs on these trips, of 

 which we made several, and found the cliff nests 

 much the easier to approach, as it was very difficult 

 to get above nests built in trees. 



In connection with the eagle, the magpie should 

 not be forgotten. Of these black and white birds 

 there were many about, and there seemed to be a 

 bond of sympathy between the widely separated 

 species of marauders. Bold enough we knew the 

 smaller bird to be, but to believe that he would 

 actually steal an eagle's fish breakfast from under 

 his very nose one must see the act. The eagle ap- 

 peared to mind but little, occasionally pecking the 

 thief away when he became offensive. 



The magpie, on the other hand, seemed to have 

 a warm feeling for his big friend, and once at 

 least we saw him flying about an eagle's nest and 

 warning the old birds of our approach with his 

 harsh cry. 



One good day among many bad ones showed no 

 255 . 



