BALD EAGLE. 



97 



This bird when kept in coiifineinent is thought by many to be fierce 

 an ' untamable, but there are many exceptions, for in certain sections 

 of she West there are few towns which can not boast of a live Eagle, 

 which is oftentimes tame and gentle. When this bird is soaring in the 

 higher air, its flight is truly grand, being equaled in grace by that of 

 few other species. Like many, if not all, of the birds of prey, the 

 Golden Eagle is fond of bathing. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Legs densely feathered down to base of toes. This character will 

 separate it, in any x^luinage, from the White-headed Eagle, which is the 

 only other Eagle in the United States. 



Length: 30 to 40 inches (760 to 1015"^"); extent, 75 to 90 inches 

 (1900 to 2280'"'") ; wing, 23 to 27 inches (580 to 685°"") ; tail, 14 to 

 16 inches (355 to 405 '"'"). 



Table showing the results of examinations of 6 stomachs of the Golden Eagle 

 {Aquila chrysaetos). 



Summary. — Of 6 stomachs examined, 

 empty. 



1 contained feathers; 2, mammals; 2, carrion; and 1 was 



BALD EAGLE. 



Haliseetus leucocephalus. 

 [Plate 14— Adult.] 



The Bald Eagle inhabits North America, ranging south into Mexico, 

 as well as into the northeastern part of Siberia. It occurs along the 

 Arctic Ocean as a summer resident only, though in the greater part of 

 Alaska and southward it is found throughout the year, merely wander- 

 ing whenever food becomes scarce. It breeds in suitable localities 

 throughout its range. 



The favorite food of the Bald Eagle is fish, and when this vertebrate 

 can be procured the bird will touch little else. Of the hundreds of these 

 Eagles which the writer has watched, none were observed ever to touch 

 anything except fish or offal picked up from rivers or along their shores. 

 What proportion of the fish consumed is taken from the Osprej' is hard 

 to estimate, but the number must be very great. 

 7626— No. 3 7 



