THE BALD EAGLE. AIS 
Bald Eagles are chiefly resident wherever found within the state. The 
Lake Erie shore and islands in the vicinity of Sandusky constitute the only 
region where the birds are at all common, but isolated nests occur along the 
Lake front at considerable intervals both east and west. Eagles appear 
regularly at the larger reservoirs, and it is probable that a few breed near by, 
altho their numbers are augmented in winter either by visiting Sandusky 
birds, or by those which have been compelled to fall back from the northern 
limits of the British American range. 
The bird subsists chiefly upon fish and these it secures by robbing the 
more expert Fish Hawk, or by independent plunging. More frequently it 
seizes weak or wounded fish which have come to the surface of the water to 
die, or else patrols the shore to pick up whatever largess of fish or offal may 
have been cast up by the waves. Frequently the Eagle may be observed sit- 
ting upon some high stub in the center of reservoir island or lake marsh, 
where it may command a wide sweep of territory, and from which it may 
descend from time to time for more particular scrutiny of suspected objects. 
A bird thus seated is one of the most picturesque features of any landscape, 
and for one who loves the water the sight is well nigh indispensable. In 
winter, I am told, the Eagles sometimes appear in considerable numbers at 
Licking Reservoir, where they find sustenance by watching near air-holes in 
the ice for such fish as occasionally seek the surface. 
That the Bald Eagle is not exclusively piscivorous is attested by Captain 
Bendire in the following words: “Some of our earlier writers speak in rather 
uncomplimentary terms of our national bird, stigmatizing it as a robber and 
tyrant, and as feeding principally on fish stolen from the Osprey, and on car- 
rion. ‘This is not strictly true. According to my observations the Bald Eagle 
lives to a great extent at least on prey captured by its own exertions, principally 
on wounded water fowl. When engaged in the chase of a flock of Geese, 
Brant, Ducks, or other water birds, on which it subsists almost entirely, when 
such are procurable, it is by no means the sluggish lazy bird some writers would 
have us believe, but the peer in swiftness, dash, and grace of any of our Rap- 
tores.’ Professor Butler adds that altho the birds sometimes feed upon lambs, 
small pigs and poultry, mice and other rodents form a more important article 
of food, and all in all they may be considered “to belong to that class of ra- 
pacious birds whose lives are beneficial.” 
“Nidification begins early. In Florida and other parts of the Gulf Coast 
eges are sometimes deposited in the early part of November, but generally from 
the 1st to the 15th of December. In the Middle States they nest occasionally in 
the beginning of February, Mr. Thomas H. Jackson taking a full set of 
