774 
FOREST AND STREAM 
[Nov. 17, 1906. 
the capture of an eagle near Northville, Mich., 
which was so intent on its pursuit of a covey 
of Bobwhites that it entangled itself in a thicket 
of raspberry bushes. 
Wild waterfowl are not so much hunted by the 
golden eagle as by the bald eagle, but are, never¬ 
theless, an important article of diet. Occasionally 
game of this kind that has fallen to the gun of 
the hunter will be seized and borne away before 
his eyes. Mr. R. MacFarhne mentions ducks as 
a part of the regular food in the region of the 
Anderson river, Mackenzie, and Mr. L. M. Tur¬ 
ner makes a similar statement regarding the 
coast of Alaska. Geese and swans, particularly 
the former, are the principal other water birds 
eaten; but curlews, plovers, and probably similar 
species, at least in Europe, are once in a while 
appropriated. Mr. George A. Boardman has 
seen a great blue heron ( Ardea herodias ) at¬ 
tacked by a golden eagle, but whether to make 
a meal from it or for some other reason was not 
apparent. 
A few additional kinds of wild birds are known 
sometimes to be taken. Prof. A. E. Verrill re¬ 
cords that a golden eagle was captured near New 
Haven, Conn., while feeding on a red-tailed hawk 
(Buteo borealis ), portions of which were found 
in its craw—strange prey for an eagle! Dr. G. 
Rorig found remains of a short-eared owl 
(Nyctalops accipitrinus ) in the stomach of a 
golden eagle from Germany. Mr. E. S. Cameron 
says that his Montana eagles often brought mea¬ 
dow larks ( Sturnella neglecta) to the nest for 
the young to eat. Brehm states that the trustful 
calandra lark ( Melanocorypha calandra ) of 
Europe is occasionally killed for food, but this 
is probably in default of other prey. 
Poultry. 
On occasion the poultry of the farmer is laid 
under tribute, but complaints of this are not fre¬ 
quent. Brehm tells that in Europe he has known 
the domestic turkey to be attacked even in the 
poultry yard. Mr. William Brewster says that 
in the mountain valleys of western North Caro¬ 
lina geese are sometimes destroyed, and Dr. E. 
A. Mearns records an instance of the same near 
Cold Spring, N. Y. 
Miscellaneous. 
In some localities, particularly in the arid west¬ 
ern United States, snakes of various kinds, par¬ 
ticularly the larger ones, are not infrequently 
killed for food. Mr. E. S. Cameron says that 
his eagles brought numbers of rattlesnakes 
( Crotalus conduentus ) to the young, and that 
once he noticed a bull snake ( Pityophis sayi ) in 
the nest. The rattlesnakes were said to be caught 
by being seized close behind the head, after which 
the head was torn off and eaten and the body 
conveyed to the aery. 
Carrion of any kind is acceptable, though ap¬ 
parently not usually so when other food is plenty 
and easily obtained. Mr. Cameron states that 
the pair of eagles whose nest was watched by 
him never, so far as he was aware, took carrion 
to the young, although there were numerous car¬ 
casses of cattle scattered about the neighborhood. 
Mr. E. W. Nelson, however, has reported this 
eagle’s feeding on the remains of a hog in 
Illinois; Mr. C. L. Rawson has recorded its de¬ 
vouring a sheep that had been killed by dogs near 
Salem, Conn.; and Prof. F. E. L. Beal informs 
the writer that once in Iowa he has known of 
its eating a dead cat on the prairie. Dr. A. K. 
Fisher found carrion in the stomach of a golden 
eagle killed at Gaithersburg, Md., in December, 
and also in that of one obtained at Whipple Bar¬ 
racks, Ariz., in the same month. Mr. L. M. 
Turner states that in Alaska the dead fishes along 
the shore are at times probably eaten, though 
he seems to have no actual proof of this occur¬ 
rence. 
Tortoises are occasionally captured, and, ac¬ 
cording to Brehm, are made ready for eating by 
being dropped from a height to break the shell. 
Mr. Vernon Bailey found remains of a tortoise 
among the debris under an eagle’s aery at Cuervo, 
New Mexico. But possibly the most remarkable 
food that the golden eagle has ever been known 
to eat is that which Brehm says was once found 
in its stomach by Dr. Reichenow-—potatoes 1 
In captivity this species readily accepts any 
kind of fresh meat, of which it will consume as 
much as two pounds daily. It also has been 
known to eat a piece of cooked beefsteak. Cur¬ 
iously enough, some individuals refuse to touch 
flesh that is in the least degree tainted, or even 
that has once accidentally been dropped from the 
claws. Chickens, sparrows, and other birds, cats, 
squirrels, rats and other mammals, alive or dead, 
as well as raw fish, are apparently enjoyed. 
Economic Status. 
The considerable destruction of fawns for 
which the golden eagle is responsible must, in an 
economic estimate, .be set down against the bird. 
The large number of grouse, ptarmigan and other 
similar game birds killed is a very heavy charge 
against it, for most of these birds, aside from 
their food value to man, are known to be of con¬ 
siderable economic importance as insect and 
weed-seed destroyers. The destruction of water 
birds, such as ducks and geese, is, in the golden 
eagle’s case, of much less consequence, since the 
number taken is relatively small, but so far as 
it goes is for the most part an injury. The song 
and other birds taken are so few that they need 
scarcely more than be mentioned. The very 
common depredations upon the young of various 
domestic animals, particularly sheep, form one of 
the most damaging counts against this eagle; and 
although lambs seem not especially to be sought 
when other food is plenty and easily secured, the 
loss at times is so great that means have to be 
taken for protection of the flocks, usually by kill¬ 
ing the eagles. Poultry, though not infrequently 
caught, is ordinarily protected by being near the 
farmhouse, where the eagle does not usually care 
to venture. 
On the other hand, much good is done by the 
often extensive slaughter of spermophiles in agri¬ 
cultural or grazing localities, where they are 
very injurious to crops. The same may be said 
of prairie dogs, except that their geographic dis¬ 
tribution is much more limited, and that for this 
and other reasons they are not so frequently 
captured. 
The killing of jack rabbits, and cottontails in 
the western United States is also a benefit, for 
these animals are often a pest. In the deer forests 
of Europe this eagle is considered beneficial and 
is protected because it preys upon the hares that 
abound there. In the far north of both conti¬ 
nents, however, rabbits can not be called injur¬ 
ious, and the eagle is therefore not to be specially 
commended for destroying them. 
Other animals eaten to some extent by the 
golden eagle, and whose destruction is to be 
treated, in large degree at least, as advantageous, 
are marmots, rats, mice and rattlesnakes. The 
eagle does man another good turn in disposal of 
carrion, though this is not a very regular or fre¬ 
quent occurrence. Good, therefore, in some re¬ 
spects, but bad in others, the golden eagle must 
be considered on the whole more harmful than 
beneficial. 
Destruction by Man. 
The golden eagle has few natural enemies, and 
when free from human interference usually main¬ 
tains its numbers. It is, however, very easily 
trapped, taking sheep, deer or rabbit bait most 
readily, but attracted by almost any kind of car¬ 
cass, and so unsuspicious and eager for a meal 
that often several may be. caught successively 
at the same place by the same bait. In fact, it 
frequently walks into snares set for other things; 
and Mr. E. S. Cameron states that in Montana 
some years ago the traps laid for wolves all but 
exterminated the golden eagle over a large area. 
It is not easy to shoot, being exceedingly wary 
under most circumstances. It is furthermore ap¬ 
parently not affected by poisoned bait, and there 
are lacking definite data to show that such means 
would be efficacious in its destruction. 
The Indians prize the wing and tail feathers 
for their war bonnets, and kill the eagle when¬ 
ever opportunity offers. In some sections, par¬ 
ticularly in California, it suffers to no little extent 
from the raids of egg collectors—all the more 
from its habit of returning each year to the same 
locality. In some European countries bounties 
are paid for the destruction of the golden eagle, 
but in many of the States of the Union, and in 
some of the provinces of Canada, it is now pro¬ 
tected along with the bald eagle. Its general ex¬ 
termination is by no means to be recommended, 
for in places where it does damage it usually 
may be kept in check by local means. 
“Morgan’s Men.” 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
I have been much interested in Kephart’s 
mountaineers and in Fairplay’s comments there¬ 
on. It occurs to me that the latter’s statements 
might lead to inferences that he did not intend, 
and perhaps he will pardon me for trying to 
straighten matters somewhat—plus an idea or 
two of mine own. 
I had occasion to devote some three years’ 
spare time to the old records—Tarleton’s own 
story in his “Campaigns,” Light-Horse-Harry’s 
Memoirs, etc., etc., while working up a three- 
volumne set of my own-—-viz., “Scouting for 
Washington,” “Morgan’s Men,” “On Guard 
Against Tory and Tarleton”—and as the critics 
uniformly agreed that the latter were historically 
accurate, and the imaginary conversations true 
to type, for convenience I will use them later 
in citation. But first—let’s take up King’s 
Mountain. 
Somebody undoubtedly drove Ferguson and 
his 1,000 Tories up a tree. They didn’t go to 
roost on the top of that mountain for fun. On 
the contrary, they had a lively idea of the wrath 
to come, justified by what happened after the 
capture, when some few of the more obnoxious 
were hung out of hand by their captors. So they 
put up the best fight they knew, and when they 
surrendered it was as a last, desperate chance 
for saving their lives. Now, who brought about 
this? Why, James Williams, et al., and a horde 
of gathered mountaineers. There wasn’t a com¬ 
pany of “regulars” within fifty miles. They must 
have done good fighting, for they didn’t leave 
a man alive, uncaptured. (Cf. Fiske’s American 
Revolution, Vol. II, page 246.) 
Faiuplay grants this, but says “they went home 
afterward.” Certainly! They were not enlisted 
men. Just a levy for the moment. And as to 
that—vide “Morgan’s Men,” page 54: 
“You know these men, Morgan,” said the 
General, earnestly. “Why cannot we enlist them 
and get them to drill and work under proper 
discipline?” 
Morgan shook his massive head. 
“You will never get them to do that. They 
live a free life, ever-ready to beat back an 
Indian raid, and so accustomed to jump to the 
front at a word’s notice when danger threatens; 
but when that is past they want to go home 
again. You must remember, sir, that they are 
frontiersmen. They live largely on game. When 
the father is gone to the wars, the eldest boy 
must take to the woods for the family meat. 
Meanwhile the father is wondering how they 
are getting on at home; so, presently he feels 
that he must go and see; and once there, it is 
a chance if he comes back again very soon. We 
must take them as they are, and when we get 
them, put them where they simply can’t run 
away; for no untrained men can stand a bayonet 
charge out in the open. Then they will fight, 
and fight well—for a time, at least.” 
At Guilford the Virginia militia did cut and 
run. They were thrown forward as a heavy 
skirmish line, and Greene doubtless expected 
them to light out when down came the British 
line of battle full upon them. Personally, with 
due respect to the late Greene, it seems to me 
he put them too far forward, for such unskilled 
men; too far for the moral effect of supports, 
which counts for so much. Still, they ought 
not to have thus scooted without even firing 
their guns, as many did, which is a count against 
them. They just had a panic, to which even 
Caesar’s men were not exempt. 
Fairplay’s citation of Washington’s- opinion 
of militia in general, no doubt, is well taken. 
Memory suggests it, though I haven’t time to 
verify at this moment. But his comment would 
lead one to suppose that at Guilford G. W. 
charged at the head of his dragoons to the aid 
of the flying militia. Whereas probably he 
wasn’t within 500 miles. Col. Billy Washington 
was, though, very much there; and he charged 
Concluded on page 799. 
