By Stream and Pond. 325 



or limbs of trees. The eggs are three or four in number. They vary much 

 in appearance, from buffy marked with reddish brown to deep reddish brown 

 marked with spots of a deeper shade. They are nearly two inches and a 

 tenth long and an inch and three fifths broad. 



The Duck Hawk is found in North America and south to Chili in 

 South America. It breeds locally through most of its United States range. 



The embodiment of strength in birds, this hawk is the bird of song and 

 story; famed by bard and minstrel, the "Peregrine" of falconry has been 

 celebrated for centuries. Its courage and power command for it a respect 

 that almost causes one to forgive its depredations on poultry and game birds. 



The male Bald Eagle is about two feet and eight inches long, with a 



spread of wing of about seven feet. The female is somewhat larger, often 



Bald Eaele exceeding three feet in length and seven feet and a half 



Haiisetus icucoccphaius from tip to tip of the wings. An adult male bird, killed 



"'■""•'■ on the Gulf Coast of Florida, in the breeding season, I 



found to weigh six pounds and three quarters, and an old female taken at the 



same time and place weighed nine pounds. The Florida birds are not quite 



as large as more northern representatives. 



Adult birds may be readily recognized by the pure white hood extending 

 over the head and neck, and the white tail. The bill and eyes are yellow. 

 The rest of the plumage is dusky brown. Immature birds are entirely dusky 

 brown. This color is generally varied with white or buffy white in infinite 

 variety. The eyes are pale brown and the bill is black. The feathering on 

 the lower leg does not reach to the toes. 



The birds nest in trees, generally of considerable height and not far 

 from water. These nests are enormous structures, built of sticks, limbs, and 

 twigs, and are annually repaired ; for the birds, if not disturbed or destroyed, 

 use the same nest for many years. The eggs, two or three in number, are 

 white and immaculate. They are about two inches and nine tenths long by a 

 little more than two inches and a quarter broad. 



The Bald Eagle is found throughout North America, generally in the 

 vicinity of water, and breeds throughout its range. 



These eagles live largely on fish, often such as are cast up on the beach 

 and frequently those stolen from the Osprey. They are also fond of carrion, 

 and I have seen them in the South feeding on the dead carcasses of cattle or 

 alligators, in company with the two kinds of Buzzards and the Caracara Eagle. 



