ZOOLOGY. 151 



there. The old birds of some other kinds are said to have the same habit of resorting to the 

 interior, particularly during their periodical migrations. 



This hawk feeds chiefly on mice and small birds, rarely disturbing the farmer's poultry, and 

 is, doubtless, of much more benetit to him than injury. — C. 



The marsh hawk, or hen harrier, I have found a frequent inhabitant of the neighborhood of 

 all Oregon streams, being not only, as mentioned by Nuttall, found there in winter, bnt is also 

 a constant summer resident. I procured one specimen, a male in the adult bluish gray 

 plumage, at Fort Dalles, in the spring of 1855. Although I had constantly seen these birds 

 during the two previous years of my residence in Oregon, I had never before met with it in its 

 gray plumage, all that I had seen being in the immature state, and while flying showing a very 

 conspicuous white patch upon the rump. Many specimens in the latter stage of plumage I 

 saw in the summer of 185G at Fort Steilacoom. Specimen 5851 (551) measured, length 21, 

 extent 47 inches. — S. 



Sub-Family A QUILINAE— The Eagles. 

 HALIAETUS LEU0OCEPHALU3, Savigny. 



Tile Bald Eagle ; tUc 'Whttc-lieaded Eagle. 



Faico Imeocephalu), Link. Syst. Nat. I, 124, (1766.) 

 Falco piignrijus, Daudi.v, Traito d'Om, II, 62, (1800.) 

 Falco ossifragm, Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, 16, (1813.) 

 Baliaelut leucocephalut, Saviq. Cut. Beg. An. ed. 2, p. 326. 

 U'lliaetm Umocephalus, (Li.vN.) B.mrd & Cassis, Gen. Rop. Birds, p. 4."?. 

 Figures.— Catesby's Carolina I, pi. I ; Vielll. Ois. d'Am. Sept. I, pi. 3 ; Wilson Am. Orn. IV, pi. 36, VII, pi. 55; And. 

 B. of Am., pi 31, 126 ; oct. ed. I, pi. 14. 



Sp. Cn.^Head, tail, and its coverts white ; rest of plumage brownish black, edges of feathers paler. 



Female: length, 35 to 42J ; wing, 23 to 25 ; tail, 14 to 15 inches. E.'itent about 88 Inches. Male: 30 to 34 ; wing, 20 

 to 22; tail, 13 to 14 inches. 



Yming: entire plumage dark brown, paler on throat and edges of feathei's; tail more or less mottled with white. Attains 

 the adult plumage in four years. 



This well known bird scarcely needs a special description here, although it seems probable 

 that a larger species of similar plumage may be found in countries inhabited by this also. 



(See Gen. Rep. on H. Waslnngtonii.) 



No. 9130, (53,) Shoalwater baj-, February 27, 1854; young female: length 37, extent 87.50. 

 Iris brown. 



No. 52, (lost,) Vancouver, February 18, 1854; adult male: length 33, extent 70. Iris, bill, 

 and feet yellow. 



The white-headed eagle is one of the most abundant of the folcon tribe in Washington Ter- 

 ritory, particularly along the Columbia river, and other smaller streams, as well as the salt 

 water. I was astonished at their numbers on the day of my arrival in the Territory in June, 

 1853. As the steamer ascended the Columbia river, a light rain falling constantly, I could see 

 three or four at any time, sitting on the gigantic spruces that lined the banks, occasionally 

 sailing oft', circling around overhead, uttering their shrill scream, as if to dispute our right to 

 navigate the great river. Though their white head and tail made them clearly visible against 

 the dark green background of foliage, they sat often so high above the river as to look ik) 

 larger than crows, and their screams were only faintly audible. Excepting a few sea-ducks 

 and gulls at the mouth of the river, the eagles were the only birds I saw that day, and the 

 absence of fish-hawks, crows, <fec., struck me as remarkable. 



