6 NORTH AMERICAN EAGLES. 



Eagles are flesh eaters, and since they consume large quantities 

 of whatever animal food is most accessible they become at times 

 an economic factor of some importance, though whether beneficial 

 or injurious in a given region is not always easy to say. In places 

 overrun by the smaller noxious mammals they frequently perform 

 valuable service by thinning the ranks of such pests, and the fond- 

 ness of some species for carrion is an added source of benefit to man. 

 But if, perchance, they do render us some good deeds, they offset 

 these by wholesale destruction of waterfowl and game birds and by 

 raids upon the sheepfold, the goat pasture, the cattle pen, and the 

 poultry yard. Thus a just verdict must pronounce them not far 

 from neutral in economic influence. Where and when they are doing 

 good they ought to be carefully protected; if at any time or place 

 they become harmful, means should be taken to obviate the damage 

 they cause; but it would be unnecessary and unwise to declare 

 against all eagles a general war of extermination, since neutral spe- 

 cies always bear an important part in the balance of nature, an 

 equilibrium that man should hesitate to disturb. 



BALD EAGLE. 



{Haliseetus leucocephalus.) 



The bald eagle, otherwise variously called white-headed eagle, 

 white-headed sea eagle, and bird of Washington, is of particular inter- 

 est to Americans as the national emblem of the United States, to 

 which dignity it was elevated on June 20, 1782. The name 'bald' 

 eagle, by which the species is almost universally known, originated 

 from the white head and the erroneous impression of baldness it 

 gives at a distance. 



This bird measures about 3 or 3^ feet in length, from 6 to 8 feet 

 in extent of wings, and weighs from 6 to 12 pounds. When fully 

 adult its color is dark brown, with white head, neck, and tail, yellow 

 bill, eyes, and feet. At least three or four years are required for 

 the assumption of this plumage, younger birds being entirely brown- 

 ish or blackish. 



The bald eagle inhabits nearly the whole of North America, from 

 northern Mexico and Florida north to Ungava and the Anderson 

 River, west to the mainland of Alaska, the Aleutian Islands, and 

 the Commander Islands, Kamchatka." 



a The birds from Alaska and much of British America are considerably larger than those 

 from farther south, and on this account have been separated as a distinct race {Haliseetus 

 leucocephalus alascanus Townsend). 



