The California Condor 



in the size of the eggs, the larger presumably being laid first. If the eggs 

 are destroyed, the birds will not nest again until the following year. The 

 young, when hatched, remain in the nest three or four months before they 

 are able to fly, and even then sometimes require considerable urging on 

 the part of their ambitious parents. 



It is evident that those who live in the vicinity of an Eagle's nest must 

 sometimes become very much attached to these stately birds, and view 

 their comings and goings with unfailing interest. In a few instances the 

 protection of the local eagles is a matter of pride, and any one who 

 attempted to molest one of them would get into serious trouble with its 

 human neighbors. This is quite as it should be. The people of this State 

 could far better afford to reimburse the owners of poultry and sheep for 

 some trifling losses inflicted upon them, than they could to be deprived 

 of the majestic presence of these symbolic birds. 



Nothing, outside of human woes, could be sadder than the sight of an 

 Eagle in a cage. Captivity is irksome at best, and the contemplation of 

 it is seldom edifying. Yet the sight of a monkey is not so bad. Ropes and 

 sticks and wire nettings are sources of infinite amusement to Jocko, as to 

 his spectators. Bruin enjoys his fare of peanuts and bonbons, and might 

 not wish to exchange his snug pit of concrete for the vicissitudes of moun- 

 tain life. Caged song-birds, even, have always artistic relief for their 

 wounded spirit. But for the captive Eagle there is no consolation what- 

 ever. Befouled, disheveled, sick at heart, and aching with imprisoned 

 forces, he can only scowl in sullen disdain at his persecutors, or mope in 

 abject misery before them. The sight of such a captive degrades the 

 onlooker, as it outrages every sentiment of justice and fitness. We have 

 no right to imprison creatures whose lives we cannot make reasonably 

 happy. 



No. 339 



California Condor 



A. O. U. No. 324. Gymnogyps californianus (Shaw). 



Synonym. — California Vulture. 



Description. — Adult: General color dull black, or sooty brownish black, the 

 feathers of back and wings browning on edges and tips, the ruff of lance-linear feathers 

 glossy, the central portions of these and similar feathers distributed over the throat 

 and breast dull gray; the inner half of the greater wing-coverts silvery gray on con- 

 cealed portions, with broad white tips; the inner secondaries similarly but irregularly 

 gray and with white on concealed portion of outer web; the axillars and central portion 

 of under wing-coverts pure white, forming a conspicuous patch some two feet in length; 



1717 



