Gilpin observer., 1909-01-21

but can only see their enemy for
short time on account OF the hgh sur
rounding pine hills. and, indeed, most
dog-towns are too extensive for the
denizens at one end to notice an eagle
passing over at the other. Moreover
an unsuccessful eagle will keep on the
wing for several hours, and 1t Is al
most certain that the hungry prairie
dogs will relax their vigilance at last.
When the eagle considers that Ia
vorable chance has arrived II sinKs
lower. so as to bring the distance De-
tween itself and the animals to some
thing like rs yards or 100 yards
Should the latter still remain above
the ground. the royal bird suddenly
folds it's wings, and, with meteorlc
rush. falls head first toward the as
founded prairie dogs. These scamper
for their holes; but about three yards
from the ground the eagle spreads
its wings and, swiftly following the
intended victim. darts out cruel foot
to grasp ii. If the attack fails, as
sometimes happens, the eagle mounts
in slow. reluctant manner, which
plainly reveals its disappointment
The winter of 1867 was the most
severe in my IS years Montana ex-
perience. The famished eagles were
compelled to unusual effort, and Mr..
r. l.. Anderson (who has a ranch in
this locality, most kindly sent me
full account of the following remark
able incident. In the middle or jan
uary he was riding two miles below
his ranch on the south fork of Cot
tonwood creek, and suddenly came
close upon three golden eagles. which
were devouring an adult buck ante
lope (Antilocapra Americana) in
little draw" Upon his appearance
the eagles endeavored to take wing,
but all found great difficulty in do
ing so. and hoped and fiuttered
along on the snow for a considerable
distance before being able to rise"
Despite the bitterly cold weather. the
antelope was warm and timber when
found. as it had only been quite re-
Gently killed The eagles had torn
large hole in its back with their ter
rible talons, and were feasting on the
kidneys and entrails. Mr.. Anderson
at once Investigated the scene of the
struggle and could easily read the
grewsome details on the deep, crusted
snow. The eagles had obviously STAN
peded bunch of antelope, and then
cut out a victim by a combined attack.
Leaving the herd, the latter endeav-
ored to escape down small right
4 h,,t
100 yards was beaten back by the
eagles. II then crossed ridge on
which the main antelope trail ran at
right angles to its own. and, hard
pressed by its assailants. struggled
down narrow left-hand draw" to
the place where it succumbed. AL
together. the antelope could barely
have covered 800 yards after the first
attack by the eagles. The victim,
which had evidently offered a gallant
resistance, seems to have made
stand in three places. chiefly where
found. but also at points along the
trail. The crimson.stained snow and
thickly-strewn hair, added to the we'll
defined wing prints of the Tapping
and dragging eagles. sufficiently re-
vealed this prairie tragedy. One or
more of the birds must have clung
tenaciously to their quarry's back,
and from the deep wounds thus In
ilicted 1.-The blood had spurted out as
when cows horns are sawn Off" On
April 23 the two brothers Archdale
saw the male eagle attempt to secure
n victim from north-bound flock OF
Canada geese. At sight of the great
black bird, which rapidly overlook
them, the panic-stricken geese scat
tered in wild confusion from their "
shaped formation, and each member
of the flock mounted separately until
1t looked a mere speck in the sky.
Meanwhile the eagle endeavored to
rise above one Of them, but. finding
this impossible. he relinquished the
chase and flew slowly southwards in
the direction OF the eyrie. When
their enemy was out of sight the
geese again resumed V-shaped for
nation and continued their interrupt
ed course. The failure of the noble
bird on this occasion arose from the
fact that he was moulting. and only
acute stress Of hunger could have
induced him to attack the geese. Ac.
cording to my observations the male
eagle began to moult ON April II.