The Golden Eagle 



birchen staff, I worked my way over to a secure footing within a dozen 

 feet of the nest. The remaining distance was a nasty bit of climbing, and 

 I preferred to await the first onslaught of the outraged parents where 

 there would be some chance of defense. Fudge! The fire-eating birds 

 appeared once or twice in the middle distance, but paid no more attention 

 to the peril of their offspring than as if I had been a magpie coveting the 

 crumbs from the royal table. 



Three weeks later I revisited the nest and put the eaglets to flight. 

 One of the old birds came up and superintended the gliding downfall of the 

 less capable child; but seeing her safely upon the ground, immediately 

 went away marmot-hunting in perfect unconcern. If there is one bird 



Taken in San Diego County 



A GOLDEN EAGLE'S NEST FROM ABOVE 



Photo by the Author 



above another of a gentle and unsuspecting nature, I judge the Golden 

 Eagle to be that bird. But doubtless this, also, is a hasty generalization. 

 Whereas generations of gun-fire have taught the Eagle a wholesome 

 respect for mankind, there is no doubt that their innate ferocity, goaded 

 by hunger, still impels them to daring feats wherever their natural prey 

 is concerned. Not only do the eagles capture foxes, raccoons, and all 

 other creatures capable of inflicting injury in turn, but they brave the 



1703 



