370 LAND-BIRDS AND GAME-BIRDS 



(c). The "Bald" Eagles, unfortunately selected as emblems 

 of their countrj', are residents, at least in summer, from the 

 Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic Ocean. They are common in 

 many parts of northern New England, particularly along the 

 coast of Maine. In Massachusetts, they no longer breed, ex- 

 cept in a few places to the westward, but the}' occasionally 

 appear along the shore, even in summer, when they undoubt- 

 edly often wander far in search of food. Wilson's picture of 

 this bird is in spirit one of the finest portrait-paintings from 

 nature, which it has ever been my good fortune to see, and, as 

 his biography is scarcely less admirable, I shall quote several 

 passages from it, adding a few observations not there recorded. 



" This bird has been long known to naturalists, being 

 common to both continents, and occasionally met with from 

 a very high northern latitude, to the borders of the torrid zone, 

 but chiefly in the vicinitj'^ of the sea, and along the shores and 

 cliffs of our lakes and large rivers. Formed by nature for 

 braving the severest cold ; feeding equally on the produce of 

 the sea, and of the land ; possessing powers of flight capable 

 of outstripping even the tempests themselves ; unawed by any- 

 thing but man ; and from the ethereal heights to which he 

 soars, looking abroad, at one glance, on an immeasurable ex- 

 panse of forests, fields, lakes and ocean, deep below him, he 

 appears indifferent to the little localities of change of seasons ; 

 as in a few minutes he can pass from summer to winter, from the 

 lower to the higher regions of the atmosi)here, the abode of eter- 

 nal cold, and from thence descend at will to the torrid or the 

 arctic regions of the earth. He is therefore found at all sea- 

 sous in the countries he inhabits ; but prefers such places as have 

 been mentioned above, from the great partiality he has for fish. 



" In procuring these he displays, in a ver}' singular manner, 

 the genius and energy of his character, which is fierce, con- 

 templative, daring and tyrannical ; attributes not exerted but 

 on particular occasions ; but when put forth, overpowering all 

 opposition. Elevated on the high dead limb of some gigantic 

 tree that commands a wide view of tiie neigliboring shore and 

 ocean, he seems calmly to contemplate the motions of the vari- 

 ous feathered tribes that pursue their busy avocations below 



