220 IfESTS AND EGGS OF 



they breed in December. The nests are massive structures, made of sticks, lined 

 with roots or grass; they are placed in trees, and their distance from the ground 

 ranges from twenty to ninety feet. On rocky coasts, destitute of suitable trees, this 

 Eagle resorts to the cliff for nesting places, and the same eyrie is occupied for many 

 years. The eggs are two, rarely three In number, and are white, or ivory-white, 

 unmarked, usually with a granulated surface and nest-stained. Three sets of two 

 eggs each are in Mr. Norris' collection; one from Merritt's Island. Florida, taken 



352. Bald Eagle (After Audubon). 



December 13, 1883, measure 2.79x2.21, 2.74x2.09; another from Stone Island, Maine, 

 collected April 21, 1887, measure 2.88x2.15, 2.94x2.13; the third from Tampa, Florida, 

 taken December 3, 1884, give the following dimensions: 2.70x2.12, 2.70x2.10. Four 

 sets in my cabinet, collected by Mr. R. C. Stuart at Cape Sable, December 1, 4. and 

 16, exhibit the following sizes by sets: First, 2.57x2.12, 2.98x2.22; second, 2.89x2.15, 

 2.91x2.17; third, 2.73x2.09, 2.63x2.02; fourth, 2.51x1.94, 2.51x2.00. These eggs were 

 taken from huge nests, placed in mangrove trees, twenty to thirty-five feet from the 

 ground. 



353. WHITE GTBPALCON. Falco islandus Brunn. Geog. Dist.— Arctic 

 regions, including Arctic America and Greenland. 



The Gyrfalcons are large handsome birds and are found In various phases of 

 plumage, being white, more or less barred and spotted with brownish and black. 

 They are birds of boreal regions, and nest in trees or cliffs, preying upon the smaller 

 quadrupeds, grouse, ducks, auks, etc. The adult of the present species averages as 

 white as the Snowy Owl. It Is called Greenland Gyrfalcon and breeds in Greenland 

 and other portions of Arctic America. Dr. Stejneger states that this species breeds 

 on Bering Island. A pair had their nest in a steep and inaccessible rock, a couple of 

 miles from the main village. The eggs are two to four in number. Mr. Crandall 

 has two sets of four eggs each of this species taken at Umanack, Greenland. May 28 



