68 Wyoming Experiment Station. 



4 acres of surface. A specimen shot for identification con- 

 tained six of the insects in its stomach. At the report of the 

 rifle the flocks left the vicinity, but in a short time returned to 

 resume their feast. 



"from the above testimony it will be seen that Swain- 

 son's Hawk, although one of the larger species, is a most 

 beneficial bird, as it destroys immense numbers of noxioii^ 

 mammals and insects and rarely touches poultry or other birds. 

 The services thus rendered should gain for it the good will 

 and protection of all fair-minded farmers and sportsmen, and 

 not the short-sighted prejudice and enmity too commonly 

 shown by these classes of men." 



These birds have been observed by nearly every collector 

 in the state. They have been reported by Jesurun from Doug- 

 las ; Williston from lyake Como ; Grinnell from Yellowstone 

 park, Drexel from Fort Bridger; Wood from Medicine Bow 

 river, Gary from Newcastle, and Coues from Powder and Gros- 

 ventre rivers, and two other Wyoming localities. There are 

 two skins in the University collection that were taken on the 

 Laramie plains. 



349. Aquila chrysaetos (Linn.). 

 Golden Eagle. 

 Resident and common. Of the two species of eagle found 

 in the state this is by far the most abundant. They usually 

 live in a rather rugged country, but visit the plateaus for food. 

 Numerous authors have cited instances of this magnificent bird 

 breeding at very high elevations. While they may all be cor- 

 rect in their observation I have not found any Wyoming birds 

 living high upon the mountains. I have seen at least a dozen 

 eagles' nests and they have all been in the broken country of 

 the foot hills, where there are deep and shelving canons. Their 

 nests were always in inaccessible places in rocks or notches of 

 a canon wall, usually a hundred or more feet from the ground 

 and from 25 to 100 feet from the top of the canon wall. The 



