158 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NATURAL HISTORY OF ALASKA. 



347«, Arcuibuteo eagopus sancti-joiiannis (Ginel.). American Rough-legged HawTi. 



This Hawk is not abundant in the Yukon District. A specimen was obtained from Saint 

 Michael's and one from Fort Yukon. At the latter place it is more common than on the coast. 



I know nothing of its general habits, as I failed to obtain either eggs or nest. 



An individual of this species was seen in captivity at Umliuk village, on Unalashka Island. 

 I had just returned to the place from a sea- voyage in July, 1878. The Hawk was a sorry looking 

 object, having been shot through the wing. It eagerly devoured pieces of raw fish that were 

 thrown to it. A Bald Eagle, also in captivity at the time, was its companion. The two birds got 

 along well together. The Hawk was quite passive and rarely attempted to show a vicious dispo- 

 sition. 



349. Aquila chrysaetos (Linn.). Golden Eagle. 



The Golden Eagle is not rare in the neighborhood of Saint Michael's. It is more frequently 

 seen further north in the vicinity of Norton Bay, and in the hills back of Pastolik, than on Saint 

 Michael's Island. The single specimen obtained by me was brought from a few miles back of Pikmik- 

 talik, where the bird had been caught in a steel trap set for foxes. The bird was caught by the feet 

 as it attempted to carry away the bait fastened to the trap. The date of its capture was March 

 10, 1877, indicating a winter residence in that locality for this bird. That month was the coldest 

 March during the four years at the village of Saint Michael's, but few miles north of Pikmiktalik. 

 The bird was doubtless impelled by keenest hunger, as it was observed for several days to attempt 

 to take bait from other traps when this one was set, and succeeded in taking the Eagle. The range 

 of this bird is irregular. It is found in some localities with the Bald Eagle, and again where the 

 latter is not to be seen. 



On the Aleutian Islands it is quite a common bird. At Unalashka they are fully as common 

 as the Bald Eagle, and are reported to breed in March in the high bluffs on Makusbin Point. 



On the western end of Unalashka Island I saw several of these birds flying along the cliffs. 



At Atkha Island they are quite numerous, being more plentiful than the Bald Eagle. They 

 are reported to breed on the cliffs and crags of Korovinsky Volcano. At Atkha the Golden Eagle 

 is not at all shy while flying, seemingly more intent on satisfying a curiosity as they pass overhead. 

 I saw a single specimen on Amchitka Island, in May, 1881, and none further west of that place. 

 They do not at all occur at Attu, as a year's stay at that place afforded me the sight of but one 

 eagle while there. The Golden Eagle has but one note, of a prolonged, shrill whistle, uttered either 

 on the wing or at rest. 



Their food consists of ptarmigans, ducks, and other birds, while I have seen them under such 

 circumstances that I believed they were eating from a dead fish, which had long before been thrown 

 on the beach. 



The Eskimo of Norton Sound call this bird Ma tug vik, a word I could not obtain any mean- 

 ing for. 



352. Halijsetus letjcooephalus (Linn.). Bald Eagle. 



The Bald Eagle is occasionally seen in the vicinity of Saint Michael's, and is reported to be 

 not uncommon in the interior. I saw several specimens along the coast of Bristol Bay in 1878. 



Among the Aleutian Islands it is plentiful. At Unalashka Island it breeds among the cliffs 

 on the northern side of the island. They breed early in March. The young are frequently brought 

 to the village of Iliuliuk, where they are kept for several weeks, or until some one maliciously kills 

 them. Several adults were also seen there in captivity. They had been wounded and brought to 

 the village. This eagle has the habit of sitting on the edge of some high bluff for hours at a time. 

 They are at this place quite difficult to approach. At Atkha Island they are very numerous, coming 

 directly into the village to remain for several hours at a time. At this time is not at all shy. They 

 will allow approach to within few yards, so close that I have thrown a stone to make them fly so that 

 I could shoot them while on the wing. They breed on several of the high bluffs of the northeast 

 shoulder of the island. Near the anchorage in Nazau Bay, of Atkha Island, are two large, 

 sugar-loaf shaped rocks that rise perpendicularly from a rocky base, which is exposed only at 

 lowest tides. On the top of these peaks, of near 250 feet high, the Bald Eagle has reared its 



