SOUTHERN BALD EAGLE 321 



of Great Britain. Young reared on the southern shores of the Baltic 

 range south to the Mediterranean through Europe to the Canaries 

 and North Africa (Algeria, Tunisia, and Egypt), and in Asia south 

 to Persia, Baluchistan, and the northwestern provinces of India 

 (Punjab, Northwest Provinces, and Sind). Also noted on passage 

 in Foochow, South China, in September. 



Casual records. — East Greenland, Angmagsalik, July 22, 1913 ; 

 Massachusetts, off Nantucket Light Ship, November 14, 1914; Spain, 

 Coto Doiiana, December 28, 1898; and Aleutian Islands, Unalaska, 

 October 5, 1899. 



Egg dates. — Greenland : 14 records, March 31 to June 28; 3 records, 

 April 15 to 29 ; and 9 records. May 1 to 26. 



Iceland : Usually in April or early in May. 



Northern Norway: From May 1 onward. 



Scotland : March 15 to April 28 ; mostly between April 10 and 22. 



Asia Minor : 9 records, January 20 to February 16. 



Iraq : S records, January 28 to February 3. 



HALIAEETUS LEUCOCEPHALUS LEUCOCEPHALUS (Linnaeus) 

 SOUTHERN BALD EAGLE 



HABITS 



For reasons that will be more fully explained under tlie northern 

 race, I think the above name should be restricted to the bald eagles 

 of the Southern States. In my opinion the breeding range of the 

 southern bald eagle should not be considered to extend very far north 

 of South Carolina, the Gulf States, and perhaps southern California. 



On June 20, 1782, our forefathers adopted as our national emblem 

 the bald eagle, or the "American eagle" as it was called, a fine looking 

 bird, but one hardly worthy of the distinction. Its carrion-feeding 

 habits, its timid and cowardly behavior, and its predatory attacks 

 on the smaller and weaker osprey hardly inspire respect and cer- 

 tainly do not exemplify the best in American character. The golden 

 eagle is a far nobler bird, but it is not strictly American. The wild 

 turkey was suggested, but such a vain and pompous fowl would have 

 been a worse choice. Eagles have always been looked upon as em- 

 blems of power and valor, so our national bird may still be admired 

 by those who are not familiar with its habits. Its soaring flight, 

 with its pure-white head and tail glistening in the sunlight, is really 

 inspiring; and it adds grandeur to the scene as it sits in a dignified 

 pose on some dead tree, its white head clearly visible against the 

 dark green of the forest background. 



Courtship. — I find practically nothing in print on this subject, but 

 C. J. Pennock says in his notes: "During late September and 

 through October may be said to be their mating season in Florida. 



