c^{i^J^ 



ORNITHOLOGIST 



—AND- 



OOLOGIST. 



A Series of Eggs of the Golden Eagle. 



In 1857, wlien Dr. Brewer began the publi- 

 cation of his Xorth Aiiwricfoi Ooloiji/, he was 

 unable to tigure any egg of the Golden Eagle 

 (Aquila cJiri/scefos) taken in Xorth America. 

 He only had a drawing, by Dr. James Trudeau, 

 of an egg taken near the Hudson river. Yet 

 he had access to the collection of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, besides owning liimself what 

 was then probably the largest private collec- 

 tion in the country. 



The times have changed, however, since 

 then, and wliat used to be a very rare egg has 

 long ceased to be so. California has furnished 

 many sets of their eggs, and most of the sets 

 now seen in collections are from that state. 



Like most of the eggs of the Raptures which 

 have markings they are subject to great varia- 

 tion, but the following seven sets now before 

 me probably exhibit in a fair degree their 

 range of coloration and size : 



Set 1. March 1(5, 1887. Northern part of 

 San Benito County, California. Nest in a live 

 oak tree, twenty-four feet from the ground, 

 composed of sticks, with a lining of dried 

 grass, green twigs and a few feathers. The 

 nest was slightly hollowed, and was about 

 five feet in diameter. The eagle flew from the 

 nest. Two eggs, incubation commenced. No. 1 : 

 Ground color dull white, thickly spotted 

 ami sprinkled with i)earl-gray, ecru-drab and 

 a few spots of chestnut. The markings are 

 thicker and heavier near the smaller end: 

 3.05x2.17. No. 2: Ground color dull white, 

 very thickly sprinkled with spt)ts and specks 

 of diab-gray, drab and chestnut. Tiie mark 

 ings are distributed pretty evenly all over the 

 sui-face: ;!.<)lx2.14. 



Set 11. March 27, 1889. San Benito County, 

 California. Nest rather small, made of oak- 

 sticks and sage, lined with oak leaves; built in 

 a small live oak on a hill side, only twelve feet 

 from the ground. The tree grew over a steep 



pl.'ice, at the head of a little gulch. Two eggs, 

 fresh. No. 1: Ground color dull white, thick- 

 ly spotted and splashed with pearl-gray. There 

 are also a few spots of russet: :Lllx2.45. 

 No. 2: Dull white ground color, thickly spot- 

 ted anil splashed with fawn color, tending to 

 become contiuent at the smaller end. There 

 are also a few spots, of lavender-gray, and 

 quite a number of small markings of russet 

 scattered over the surface: 8.05x2.45. 



Set III. February 26, 188(i. San Benito 

 County, California. Nest in live oak tree, 

 thirty-one feet from the ground. It was com- 

 po.sed of sticks and stubble, and measured six, 

 by five feet, with a dei)th inside of only four 

 inches. Bird seen on nest. Two eggs, fresh. 

 No. 1 : White, heavily marked at the larger 

 end with large spots of drab-gray, and on the 

 smaller end tliere are a number of small sp(jts 

 of cinniimon-rufous and chestnut: 2.8!)x2.2U. 

 No. 2: White, heavily blotched at the smaller 

 end with cinnamon-rufous and chestnut: 

 2,8(ix2.21. A beautiful egg. 



Set IV. February 19, 1889. San Benito 

 County, California. Nest in a live oak, forty- 

 one feet above the ground; made of oak 

 sticks and mustard stalks, with sage, and 

 lined with dry oak leaves, moss and feathers. 

 It measured from the toj) to the bottom thirty- 

 two inches, and was forty-two inches across. 

 Two eggs, containing small embryos. No. 1 : 

 This egg is of very unusual siiape for this 

 species, as it is distinctly ovate in form, and 

 quite pointed. Ground color white, thickly 

 splashed and spotted with pearl-gray. There 

 are also a few small spots of russet, i^rincipally 

 near the smaller end: 8.01x2.81. No. 2: 

 White, thickly marked with small spots and 

 splasiies of cinnamon-rufous, and a few spots 

 of pearl-gray. The markings are evenly dis- 

 tributed over the surface: 2.99 x 2.28. 



Set V. March 1, 1888. Santa Clara County, 

 California. Nest in live oak, forty feet from 

 the grouiiil, made of sticks, lined with straw, 

 oak leaves, and moss. Birds seen. Two eggs, 



Copyright, 1890, by Fb.\xk B. AVkbster. 



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