6 
GAUKRODGER, The Way of an Eagle. [ "i.t July 
growing nicely. So 1 more fully disguised “Stump,” and left 
everything for a time in order to reassure the parent birds, should 
they feel curious in the matter. I could not arrive at any reason 
for the death of one chicken, but it seems an established fact that, 
although generally two eggs are laid and hatched, it is seldom that 
two young birds are reared. I have seen only one exception, 
and even then one bird was much larger and stronger than the 
other. On that occasion the season was bountiful, with no 
scarcity of natural food. The present season being just the 
opposite, with such food as lizards, snakes and kangaroo rats 
very scarce, it seems possible that it may be a trait of the Eagle 
to regulate the family in accordance with the varying supply of 
food. 
During the period of hatching I saw an old bird only once, and 
then it was soaring at such a height as to be almost indistinguish¬ 
able. With such indefinite information as to the time of day the 
birds made their visits, I did not relish entering into my vigil 
with only “Stump” and ants as companions, so I resolved to take 
one day to probe further into the mystery. Accordingly, on the 
following morning, well before daylight, 1 took a car visit to the 
vicinity of the nest, and, hiding myself as well as possible in the 
scanty bushes available, I waited until the break of dawn. There, 
sure enough on the high limb of a tree next the nest, were both 
Eagles, perching leisurely. As the light became a little stronger 
they saw me, and quickly, but quietly, planed away. 
I came to the conclusion that very early breakfast was the 
chicken's daily meal, and, as the camera could not be relied upon 
to give its best in the early and poor light, I began to think I 
might be checkmated in my game, after all. Reasoning the 
matter out, however, I concluded that the feeding-time was very 
early in the morning. Certainly the old birds’ presence at this 
time gave colour to the fact that they were not as forgetful of 
their home as my past week's observations had seemed to indicate. 
All the same, there was reason to believe at all times one bird 
is, or both birds are, continually in some commanding viewspot, 
taking notice of all that is going on at home. Later observations 
proved this surmise to be correct. 
The possibility of failure through having to operate the camera 
in the very early morning was somewhat discouraging. Matters 
in all other respects seemed favourable to success, however, so 
I decided to put “Sanderson’’ in “Dummy’s” place, and arrange 
all details and prepare for a trial of patience with my subject 
on the morrow. If unsuccessful in getting a snap, I would cer¬ 
tainly get some experience that would help me for better results 
later on. 
“Sanderson” being only a half-plate camera, and twenty-six 
feet distant from the nest, I decided to use a whole plate lens in 
order to secure the subject on the plate sufficiently large to admit 
of a fair-sized direct contact print. The focussing was a matter 
of some difficulty. Twenty feet is not very high, but when one 
