A PAIR OF EAGLES 77 



and they will chase each other for long distances about the 

 country. One November day I heard a loud roaring over- 

 head, and looking up saw an eagle at a height of some fifty 

 yards darting swiftly toward the earth. The rush of air 

 through its half closed wings caused the whirring sound. 

 A short distance above came another eagle in hot jjursuit, 

 nor was the speed checked until within fifty feet of where 

 T stood, when with graceful curves the birds again soared 

 aloft and the chase continued across the fields and over the 

 woods beyond. This happened seventeen miles from the 

 nearest nest and the birds were going in a direction which 

 would lead them directly away from it. 



Hunters have told me of eagles which they have seen at 

 many times this distance from their nest. But when we 

 stop to consider that this majestic bird can, with its power- 

 ful wings, easily cover a distance of sixty, or eighty, or 

 even one hundred miles an hour, these autumn wanderings 

 do not seem very extensive. 



The feathers of the adult bird are dark brown, except the 

 head, neck and tail, which are white. On account of the 

 white appearance of the head, so different from the back 

 and wings, the bird at a distance might be thought to have 

 a head destitute of feathers. Hence possibly came the 

 name by which it is usually known— the bald eagle. This 

 white portion of the ])lumage does not come until the bird 



