200 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. XVIII 
this bird was numerous, specimens being taken, along the bay and on salt 
water marshes in and around Eureka, though it is fair to state that there was 
probably fresh water not far away in each instance. 
The Varied Thrush ( Ixoreus n. naevius ) has been recorded in the Distri- 
butional List as summering only in the Canadian zone, which makes it appear 
as if there were no published record of this species breeding at sea level in 
California. Yet in our oological collection are three sets of eggs taken at or 
near Eureka by F. J. Smith at elevations of but a few feet above the sea. Mr. 
Smith writes that he has found this bird nesting from near the salt marshes, 
where the woods come down to sea level, up to as high as 1500 feet in the 
ranges farther back. Localities were visited on this occasion where Mr. Clay 
had found it in the nesting time, in other years, but it was conspicuous this 
particular season only by its entire absence from the scene. Even in the more 
Canadian zone, on the ranges back of Humboldt Bay, none was seen or heard. 
The Western Evening Grosbeak ( Hesperiphona v. montana ) was found 
near Eureka on June 1, three individuals being seen and one taken, as they 
were feeding in the top of a spruce. Clay found this species in this locality 
on May 7, 1911 (Condor, xiv, 1912, p. 74), a flock of about twenty birds having 
been seen and two secured. While not recorded as breeding near the coast, 
or at sea level, the fact of its having been noted there from time to time dur- 
ing the nesting season indicates a strong possibility of its doing so. 
San Francisco, July 25, 1916. 
NOTES ON THE GOLDEN EAGLE IN AEIZONA 
By P. C. WILLARD 
R ECENTLY I have been told a number of experiences that have been had 
by several old time residents of this country with Golden Eagles ( Aquila 
chrysaetos). Mr. John Hand reports the killing of a four-point white- 
tail deer during a very heavy fall of snow in January of this year. This took 
place near the summit of the Chiricahua Mountains. The deer had been 
pounced upon by one or more eagles as it floundered in the deep snow, and 
its back was fearfully lacerated by the talons. After it had succumbed, the 
carcass was dragged down-hill over one hundred yards until it lodged against 
a large boulder. Three eagles were feeding on it when first discovered by 
some prospectors. A day or two later Mr. Hand approached closely and fired 
a charge of fine shot at one of the birds but failed to disable it. At this time 
the carcass had begun to show taint. Traps were set and one eagle, well aged 
as its color showed, was caught. Small pellets of shot embedded in it showed 
it was the one Mr. Hand had shot at. The other two eagles were keen enough 
to keep out of the traps and too shy to be approached within gunshot. 
In 1889, Mr. Hand came upon an eagle feeding on a calf it was supposed 
to have killed. He ran after it as it attempted to fly off and knocked it down 
with the barrel of his gun. It had gorged so heavily it could not rise over 
three feet from the ground, there being no wind to assist its taking flight. 
This was apparently a young bird and was sent alive to Tucson and later to 
Los Angeles, where it is now supposed to be in one of the parks. The meat 
of the calf was well on the road to decay. 
