370 LAND-BIRDS AND GAME-BIRDS 
(c). The * Bald” Eagles, unfortunately selected as emblems 
of their country, are residents, at least in summer, from the 
Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic Ocean. They are common in 
many parts of northern New England, particularly along the 
coast of Maine. In Massachusetts, they no longer breed, ex- 
cept in a few places to the westward, but they occasionally . 
appear along the shore, even in summer, when they undoubt- 
edly often wander far in search of food. Wilson’s picture of 
this bird is in spirit one of the finest portrait-paintings from 
nature, which it has ever been my good fortune to see, and, as 
his biography is scarcely less admirable, I shall quote several 
passages from it, adding a few observations not there recorded. 
‘““This bird has been long known to naturalists, being 
common to both continents, and occasionally met with from 
a very high northern latitude, to the borders of the torrid zone, 
but chiefly in the vicinity of the sea, and along the shores and 
cliffs of our lakes and large rivers. Formed by nature for 
braving the severest cold; feeding equally on the produce of 
the sea, and of the land; possessing powers of flight capable 
of outstripping even the tempests themselves ; unawed by any- 
thing but man; and from the ethereal heights to which he 
soars, looking abroad, at one glance, on an immeasurable ex- 
panse of forests, fields, lakes and ocean, deep below him, he 
appears indifferent to the little localities of change of seasons ; 
as in a few minutes he can pass from summer to winter, from the 
lower to the higher regions of the atmosphere, the abode of eter- 
nal cold, and from thence descend at will to the torrid or the 
arctic regions of the earth. He is therefore found at all sea- 
sons in the countries he inhabits ; but prefers such places as have 
been mentioned above, from the great partiality he has for fish. 
‘¢In procuring these he displays, in a very singular manner, 
the genius and energy of his character, which is fierce, con- 
templative, daring and tyrannical; attributes not exerted but 
on particular occasions ; but when put forth, overpowering all 
opposition. Elevated on the high dead limb of some gigantic 
tree that commands a wide view of the neighboring shore and 
ocean, he seems calmly to contemplate the motions of the vari- 
ous feathered tribes that pursue their busy avocations below 
