154 LAND BIRDS 



Eagle." It frequents the prairies and desert plains, and, 

 unlike others of its family, cares little to be near water. 

 Its food is small mammals and reptiles, seldom birds, and 

 it is one of the few species that the law should protect. 

 In hunting, it flies low over the fields, carrying its food 

 to a low perch to devour at its leisure. Late in the 

 afternoon it may be seen circling gracefully high in 

 the air; at such times it appears not unlike the 

 golden eagle, which doubtless accounts for its nickname, 

 Prairie Eagle. It makes no attempt to defend its nest 

 when molested by men, but flies away with scarcely a 

 protest. 



Incubation is complete in twenty-eight days, the young 

 remaining in the nest six to eight weeks. This difference 

 in time is the difference between a cold and a warm 

 climate, the young of the former maturing less rapidly. 



349. GOLDEN EAGLE. — Aquila chrysaetos. 

 Family : The Falcons, Hawks, Eagles, etc. 



Length: Male 30.00-35.00 ; female 35.00-40.00. 



adults: Entire plumage dai'k brown ; the lanceolate feathers of high 

 neck and the feathers of tarsus golden brown ; tail blackish, irregu- 

 larly barred with dark gray. 



Young : Similar to adult, but upper half of the tail plain white. 



Dovmy Young: Grayish white, grayer beneath. 



Geographical Distribution: Northern portions of the northern hemi- 

 sphere, chiefly in mountainous regions. 



Breeding Range : Throughout its habitat, the mountainous regions of 

 California. 



Breeding Season : February, March, and April. 



Nest : Bulky, sometimes 4 feet deep and 5 feet in diameteT ; of sticks, 

 lined with straw, leaves, hair, or feathers ; usually placed in trees on 

 a steep mountain side. 



