134 BIRDS OF PREY. 



Bald Eagle, that in the ancient continent they seldom 

 wander beyond the arctic circle, being found no farther to 

 the south than Sweden and Norway ; while in America, 

 they dwell and breed, at least, in all the intermediate re- 

 gion from Hudson's Bay to Florida, being considerably 

 more numerous even than other species throughout the 

 swamps and dark forests of the southern states. Their 

 food is principally rabbits, squirrels, grous, quails, rats, 

 mice, and frogs. From necessity, as well as choice, 

 they not unfrequently appear around the farm-house and 

 garden in quest of the poultry, particularly young 

 chickens. At these times they prowl abroad towards 

 evening, and fly low and steadily about, as if beating for 

 their prey. In Alabama, Georgia, West Florida, and 

 Louisiana, where they abound, they are often to be seen 

 abroad by day, particularly in cloudy weather, and, at 

 times, even soar and fly with all the address of diurnal 

 birds of prey. Their loud guttural call of ^Jcoli 'Tcoh 'ho 

 'ko ho, or 'wJiah 'whaJi 'ivJtah 'tvhah-aa ,may be heard occa- 

 sionally both by day and night, and, as a note of recogni- 

 tion, is readily answered when mimicked, so as to decoy 

 the original towards the sound. One which I received, 

 in the month of December (1830), was hovering over a 

 covey of quails, in the day-time ; and though the sports- 

 man had the same aim, the owl also joined the chase, 

 and was alone deterred from his sinister purpose by re- 

 ceiving the contents of the gun intended only for the 

 more favorite game. Audubon says, that they usually 

 nestle in hollow trees, without adding any lining even 

 to the cavity; though they sometimes also take pos- 

 session of the old nests of the Crow or Red-tailed Hawk. 

 The eggs, globular and white, are from 4 to 6. When the 

 young leave the nest, they still keep together for mutual 

 warmth and safety, in the high, shaded branches of the 



