WHITE-HEADED OR BALD EAGLE. 77 



color ; the head and upper part of the neck, as well as the tail and 

 its coverts, are of a pure white, (but in the female incline a little 

 to straw-color). The bill, cere, and feet yellow, with the sole of the 

 feet rough and warty, suited for holding slippery objects. The iris 

 whitish-yellow. The female about 3 feet long, with the stretch of 

 the wings about 7 feet. The male 2 or 3 inches shorter. — In the 

 first year, the white of the head and neck is blended with greyish- 

 brown. These parts are variegated with the two colors in the 

 seeond year. 



The young of the first year are distinguished with difficulty from 

 the young of the White-tailed Eagle ; their plumage is however less 

 regularly varied with brown colors, and the tail is always somewhat 

 longer. 



Subgenus. — Pandion. 



Bill rounded above, and with the cere hispid ; nostrils obliquely 

 curved ; membranaceous on the upper edge. Tarsi naked, reticu- 

 lated, rough; toes divided to the base, the outer versatile ; nails 

 equal and rounded beneath. Wings long ; 1st primary equal with 

 the 3d ; the 2d longest. 



Of a cowardly disposition, and living on fish, they inhabit near 

 waters, retiring from them, when frozen, to warmer climates. They 

 seize their prey in their talons near the surface of the water, or 

 plunge for it as occasion requires ; they very rarely hunt birds. 



