when within fifty yards of the fence, the larger one of the two swooped down at the rabbit, and when he dodged the Eagle pursued him, flying at a height of about three feet above the ground. The rabbit redoubled his speed and made straight for the fence, the Eagle following and both doing their best; the one fleeing for his life, the other pursuing to satisfy the cravings of an empty stomach.
This unequal race was kept up until the fence was reached, the Eagle having gained until she was but two or three feet behind the rabbit. When the rabbit passed through the fence, I expected to see the Eagle give up the pursuit, but she had no intention of doing so, for without slacking her speed she raised herself just enough to clear the fence, and, dropping down behind the rabbit, continued as before. Still I thought that he had a good chance to escape, for he had gained a little ground in passing through the fence, but instead of dodging around through the trees, which is something the rabbit always does, when pursued by dogs, he was so crazed with fear that he ran in a straight line down through the orchard.
The velocity with which the Eagle flew at this stage of the chase was something wonderful. Fast as the rabbit ran, the "great black shadow" behind him drew nearer and nearer, until, poising an instant over its victim, the Eagle pounced upon him. A short struggle, a cry or two from the rabbit, and all was still. I hastily ran toward the spot, and had approached nearly to the Eagle when it took wing and joined its mate, which was wheeling around above me. After a few turns they mounted up into the heavens and in a short time disappeared.
The rabbit was a large "Jack," and was in a perfectly healthy condition. A row of deep gashes on either side of the backbone marked the spot where the Eagle had struck him with its talons, and his head was almost severed from the body, the throat being cut almost as cleanly as could have been done with a knife. The gash extended from the jaw bone on one side of the neck, to the ear on the other.
Echoes from the Field.
The Old-Squaw and Fulvous Tree Ducks at Alviso, Cal. During the first week in February of this year I received from Alviso, in this [Santa Clara] county, a specimen of the Long-tailed Duck or Old-Squaw, a female in winter plumage. So far as I know this is the first instance of this species being taken in this county, nor am I aware that it has ever been reported from any point on San Francisco Bay.
I have seen at the house of a friend in San Jose a Fulvous Tree Duck, also taken at Alviso several years ago. I believe that this species has not been recorded from this county before and is, at any rate, a rare visitor here. F. H. Holmes, Berryessa, Cal., April 15, 1899.
A Record for Los Angeles County, Cal. I have to report an addition to Mr. Grinnell's "List of Birds of the Pacific Slope of Los Angeles Co.," having taken four males and two females of Loxia curvirostra minor. They were working on the cones of pines along Lincoln Ave., Pasadena, and when disturbed by the report of a gun, were readily recalled by imitating the note of the female. Different members of the Club have looked sharply for this Crossbill among the pines on Wilson's Peak during the past few years without success, but now the dry year and consequent lack of food, brings them to our very door. F. S. Daggett, Pasadena, Cal., Dec. 26, 1898.
Unusual Lining of a Red Bellied Hawk's Nest and Sonoma County Notes. On April 14, I secured a set ⅓ Red-bellied Hawk and was surprised to notice a nest of the Californian Bush Tit used as part of the lining of the hawk's nest. It was torn open about four inches from the bottom and as the shells of several eggs
