BIRDS OF ESSEX COUNTY; 211 



Peabody Academy taken in Essex County, in 1868. A male was shot at Lynn- 

 field, November 23d, 1886, and the specimen is now in the collection of Mr. 

 William Brewster. ^ Young Bald Eagles are often mistaken for Golden Eagles 

 and it is therefore never safe to accept a record without seeing the specimen. 

 I merely mention here that an Eagle was shot at Byfield, about 1 898, and was 

 mounted by Mr. C. H. Houghton of Rowley, who knows the distinguishing 

 marks, and who assured me that it was a Golden Eagle with tarsi feathered to 

 the toes. A recent attempt to trace the specimen proved unsuccessful. 



'5' [352] Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Linn.). 

 Bald Eagle. 



Uncommon visitor. 



There are five specimens of this bird in the Peabody Academy collection 

 and single specimens from the County are not uncommon. On September i6th, 

 1 893, Mr. Walter Fa.xon saw a young bird on the Ipswich dunes and upper part 

 of the beach, and Mr. R. H. Howe, Jr., once saw one on the beach at Ipswich. 

 On May 24th, 1903, as I was starting from my house at Ipswich, at 4 a. m., in 

 company with Mr. Ralph Hoffmann, a Bald Eagle flew over our heads close to 

 the house, and went straight to the beach. He was pursued by Crows, who 

 appeared about the size of Kingbirds in comparison. The Eagle had probably 

 been spending the night in the woods, perhaps of Boxford, and was going to a 

 repast of fish on the beach. The lighthouse keeper had reported seeing him for 

 several days. We found him at the beach and he alighted on the peak of a sand 

 dune, so covered by another dune that I was able to watch him unsuspected 

 within forty yards. This latter dune is shown in the frontispiece. The bird 

 was in immature plumage and was easily distinguished from the Golden Eagle 

 by his bare lower tarsi, which he displayed to advantage when he scratched his 

 head. When he flew off, the markings of his tail and wings in the sand were 

 plainly to be seen. This noble bird also left a dropping which smelt strongly 

 of decayed fish. It is possible that this is the same bird that was found busily 

 engaged in eating a dead fish at Turk's Head, on Cape Ann. So intent was he 

 on this repast that a man crept stealthily up and slew him with a hoe, a magnifi- 

 cent vindication, if one is needed, for the " man-with-the-hoe." 



Dr. Phillips records one seen flying over Wenham Lake in November, 1901, 



' Wm. Brewster: Auk, vol. 4, p. 75, 1887. 



