148 




which the offspring sat. It was not on any ro- 
mantic cliff or fear inspiring precipice, on the con- 
trary it was in the forest of Monroe county, in no 
wise different from any of the ordinary undulat- 
ing mountain sides, and only by accident did I 
find it, and only by a similar chance do I expect 
to find another in this locality. 
AQUILA CHRYS#TUS. 
Golden Eagle. 
Far above the circling Buzzards could now and 
then be seen the form of one of these noble birds 
as in evolutions, comensurate with their superior 
size, they scanned the earth beneath in search of 
prey. They nested with the buzzards and it is 
needless to say I did not seek their eggs, but 
a friend came to spend the season with me 
and the sight of these birds as they prepared for 
their early spring nesting enthused him to such a 
degree that he desired to look up their eyries. 
With the memory ofgmy previous cliff hunting I 
declined to accompany him and he started alone. 
In three days he returned for provisions, and an- 
nounced his determination to renew the search. 
While admiring his perseverance I pitied his 
judgment, but when visiting him a few weeks ago 
and admiring the splendid pair of these Eagles 
and set of eggs in his extensive collection I secretly 
wished that I had possessed more of his New Eng- 
land grit and less of my southern lassitude. 
The eyrie from which my friend secured his set 
of eggs was on Bald Mountain and I extract from 
his journal, which I secretly purloined for a short 
time: “Grasping firmly a small stout mountain 
shrub I crawled as near the edge of the cliff as I 
dared, when raising my head I could see the eyrie 
and the two eggs which it contained. First de- 
siring to secure the birds I crept back to where I 
had plenty of room, and waiting until the male 
was overhead I fired my Winchester. The ball 
sped true to mark, as he fell with a broken neck. 
I fully expected the female to fly from range, but 
not comprehending the report and seeing her 
mate fall she swooped down to investigate. 
Hastily pumping another cartridge into place I 
fired, but in the excitement of the moment missed. 
As the bird began to tower into the air I again 
fired, with fatal result to the eagle. With my 
camp hatchet I cut a large birch, and leaving 
some length of limbs on the trunk I let one end 
over the edge of the cliff. Fortunately it was 
long enough and I went down the impromptu 
ladder with some misgivings. The eggs were 
safely secured and packed and with the birds over 
my shoulder I started on the eleven mile tramp to 
the Doctor’s camp.” 
3rief notes of the following will be given, as 
they will complete my record of Raptores. 
ORNITHOLOGIST 
[ Vol. 11-No. 10 
FALCO PEREGRINUS ANATUM, Duck Hawk. A 
few birds of this species seen all summer, but 
from my experience with Buzzards I do not. look 
for any possibilities of finding nest or eggs. They 
may be ranked as breeding in these mountains. 
FALCO SPARVERIUS, Sparrow Hawk. Another 
rare bird, and one which may possibly breed, but 
I never found its nest. Found a nest in the 
Church River country in Virginia in 1883. It was 
in an old maple stub standing alone in an open 
field. The five eggs which it contained were ex- 
ceedingly handsome, each egg being ringed with 
chocolate-colored spots. 
PANDION HALL#TUS CAROLINENSIS, Osprey. 
I have seen this species just often enough to in- 
clude it amongst the Raptores of this country. 
ACCIPITER VELOX, Sharp-shinned Hawk. Not 
common. Have shot two and seen a few others. 
(To be Continued.) 

Observations on the Development 
and the Decay of the Pigment Layer 
on Birds’ Eggs. 

BY ALEXANDER M. M’ ALDOWIB, M. D., VICE-PRESI- 
DENT OF THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE NA- 
TURALISTS’ FIELD CLUB, ENGLAND. 
Read Before the North Staffordshire Field Club. 


Many and various are the theories which have 
been brought forward by ornithologists to ac- 
count for the coloration of birds’ eggs, but all 
have failed to explain why the majority are so 
richly and beautifully ornamented. White eggs, 
deposited in dark situations, are accounted for, 
as also are those which simulate the colour of the 
soil or other material on which they are laid. All 
others, comprising by far the largest proportion 
of eggs, have proved an enigma as yet unsolved. 
Theorizing on this interesting subject, it occurred 
to my mind that if we were to reverse the usual 
order of study, examine first the pigmentation of 
these eggs whose colours apparently bear no re- 
lation to their surroundings, and afterwards in- 
vestigate the causes which might have brought 
about the loss of pigment in white eggs, and also 
the method by which protective mimicry had 
been produced, we might arrive at a more satis- 
factory and scientific conclusion. A review of 
other organic objects gave abundant reason for 
this order of investigation. White is one of the 
rarest hues in the organic world. When it occurs 
it is for some specific purpose, and its presence 
can always be easily accounted for. Thus, animals 
which live within the arctic circle are white like 
the snow of these regions, the perianth of many 
flowers is white to attract insects and ensure cross 
