The Golden Eagle 



site may be a hillside, easily approached, or 

 an inaccessible niche in a cliff, or a tree of 

 almost any sort. In the coast ranges, cliffs, 

 white oaks, and digger pines are about 

 equally represented. A cartload of sticks 

 forms the foundation in any case, and the 

 top is a platform rather than a nest, for 

 the nesting hollow proper may be only 

 a sharp depression in the center of 

 the structure. This portion, at 

 least, will be lined with shredded 

 bark, grass, or any trashy, soft 

 substance. The ample propor- 

 tions of the top, four or five feet 

 across, are necessitated by its use 

 as a landing stage, as well as a 

 dissecting room, dining room, 

 nursery, and gymnasium, — not to 

 mention its uses as a look-out 

 station, or as a landmark. 



One or two eggs constitute 

 a set, rarely three, and very ex- 

 ceptionally four. The shells 

 of the eggs, viewed from the 

 inside, have the greenish 

 blue cast which marks 

 the Eagles as belonging 

 to the Hawk division, 

 instead of the Falcon 

 division, of the order of 

 Falcones. On the out- 

 side, these shells exhibit 

 a marked individuality, 

 and vary from pure white 

 through bold spots and 

 blotches of pale brown to a complete clouding or investiture of fawn-color. 

 They vary greatly in size, also, "pullets' " eggs being scarcely more than 

 half the bulk of the largest examples from mature birds. C. S. Sharp has 

 figured an egg from Escondido which measured in inches 3.47 x 2.62, and 

 which contained 4.10 cubic inches (.067 liters), as compared with 2.50 

 cu. in. of an average egg, and 2.07 cu. in. of a small egg, by no means a 

 "runt," in the M. C. O. collection. 



f/.A .!*»*" 



Taken in California Photo by H. T. Bohlman and W. L. Finley 



A PRINCE OF THE ROYAL BLOOD 



THE BIRD IS STILL IN THE NEST — ONE OF THE EAGLETS PREVIOUSLY SHOWN 



1707 



