144 NATUKAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS IN ALASKA. 



Bubo lay among the boues of its victims. Tlio conqueror was thereafter well treated and, fastened 

 by one leg with a long cord, was kept in the orchard as a pet, until the intense heat in early June 

 l)roved too much for him and death resulted from the efl'ects of a sunstroke. 



'.' Aquila CHEYSAiiTOS (Linn.). Golden Eagle (Esk. jrM-j}t-<«7-?A). 



Throughout a large portion of the Territory, especially that part which is more or less heavily 

 wooded aud interspersed with mountains, the Golden Eagle is found. The Point Barrow party 

 secured a single specimen taken by the natives east of Colville Eiver. It extends its range west 

 along the Aleutian chain, having been obtained on Unga Island by Dall, who mentions it as a 

 common resident on the Aleutian chain as far west as Unalaska. Turner notes that it is a rare 

 visitor to the Near Islands. 



During my visit to the eastern portion of the Aleutian chain, in the spring of 1877, none of 

 these birds were found, although the following species was very numerous. The skin aud quills 

 of this bird are used for ornamental purposes in the religious festivals and dances of the Eskimo, 

 and the bird itself figures extensively in their legends. During my residence in Northern Alaska 

 I saw only fragments of skins in the possession of the natives, noue of the birds coming under my 

 notice. 



It nests rather commonly on the Lower Mackenzie and Anderson Elvers, aud extends its range 

 to the Arctic shores of the mainland, and perhaps reaches some of the adjacent islands north of 

 British America. lu spite of the courageous and even fierce character of this fine bird it some- 

 times descends to feed upon carrion. On one occasion a pair was disturbed by a friend of mine 

 while they were feeding upon the remains of a hog in Northern Illinois. As my friend approached 

 the birds arose, aud swooped fiercely at him. Both birds were shot almost at the muzzle of the 

 gun; the first fell dead almost at his feet, but this apparently served only to increase the rage of 

 the survivor, which renewed the attack until it, too, was disabled. 



Hali^etus leucocephalus (Linn.). Bald Eagle (Esk. Mu-tufih-o icik). 



Bald Eagles are very abundant throughout the Aleutian chain, where they are resident. In 

 summer they feed upon fish and the numerous wild fowl, which breed among these islands. In winter 

 they feed upon Ptarmigan aud the sea-fowl, which reside there during this season. When at the 

 salmon run in Sanborn Harbor, Nagai, Mr. Dall saw seventeen eagles within 100 yards. During 

 winter he found many eagles dead, but they were too fat to have starved, and he was unable 

 to account for the mystery. When he left the islands, in October, he found the young still unable 

 to fiy, and remarks upon the great length of time they remain in the nest. 



It is well known to be extremely common on the entire Aleutian chain, and thence along the 

 south coast of Alaska throughout the Kadiak aud Sitkan region. In the latter part of its range 

 it is maiuly a fish-eating bird. Throughout the northern portion of the Territory, where it is 

 widely distributed, it is not uncommon to find a. pair of eagles frequenting the cliffs in the interior, 

 where they rear their young. Here they prey upon the young reindeer and smaller game, and the 

 natives accuse them of even carrying away children. 



The following is a good specimen of Eskimo animal myths, and records the belief that long 

 ago the eagles were larger and fiercer than they now are. The story is current among the Eskimo 

 along the Lower Yukon and ueighboring coast: In ancient times there were eagles of tremendous 

 size frequenting the tops of the highest mountains in the interior and preying upon whales and 

 full-grown reindeer, and eveu upon men. A volcanic crater of very regular outline, situated upon 

 the summit of a mountain near the Lower Yukon, was pointed out to me as the nest of the 

 ancieut Mutughowik. Around the rim of the crater are diflerently-colored stoues, which, the 

 natives claim, were gathered by these birds to ornament their nest. When the birds sat here, 

 overlooking the Yukon on the one side and the sea far away to the horizon ou the other, their 

 screams could be heard for miles, and many luckless creatures were caught in their talons aud 

 carried swiftly to their eyrie, and there torn into fragments to be devoured. Year after year these 

 birds remained, until men were afraid to go out ou the broad bosom of the I'ukou for fear of being 

 caught by these evil guardians of the mountains overlooking their village. Each year the young 

 were raised and flew away, noue knew whither ; so that never more than two olil birds inhabited 



