BIRDS OF PREY 155 



Eggs: 2 or 3 : whitish, marked with heavy blotches, spots, and specks 

 of brown, lilac, and gray, most abundant at the longer end. Size 

 2.96 X 2.27. 



The Golden Eagle is by no means a rare bird in Cal- 

 ifornia. He breeds in the mountains of Santa Cruz 

 County and at many other localities throughout the 

 State. Fortunately, the nest is usually placed in such 

 an inaccessible location as seldom to fall a victim to 

 collectors. It is a large structure, nearly five feet in 

 diameter and several feet deep, lined with stubble, grass, 

 and leafy twigs, and placed in the top of a sycamore, 

 pine, or oak, overhanging a rocky canon. The two eggs 

 vary from unmarked white to heavily marked with red, 

 brown, and purple. Three and a half weeks are required 

 for incubation, and the young remain in the nest nearly 

 six weeks after they are hatched, so that, although the 

 eggs may be laid in March, the first of June often finds 

 young in the nest. A pair whose record I have, began 

 sitting March 26, and the young were newly hatched 

 April 22. On June 14 they were still in the nest, but 

 June 16 both had left. This nest was in a live-oak on 

 the crest of a ridge in Santa Clara County, and had been 

 built new that year. Rabbits, grouse, and many small 

 quadrupeds were carried to the nest, as well as several 

 good-sized snakes. I saw no lambs, fawns, or fish, but 

 several times the male brought what looked to be young 

 foxes or coyotes. Meal-time came twice or three times 

 a day, never oftener. This pair hunted together, leaving 

 the young unguarded hour after hour, but I believe they 

 were always kept in range of the mother's keen eye, 

 however far away she seemed to be. Early in the mora- 



