604 EAPTORES, OR BIRDS OF PREY. 



globe. It . is common in Sweden and Norway, where it builds. 

 Its aerie is about two yards wide, and is generally situated in 

 the forests bordering on the sea or great lakes. It visits the 

 French coasts in the autumn, following flocks of Geese which 

 are migrating to the South ; and it is again seen in the spring, 

 on its return to the North. In Russia the special conditions of 

 existence somewhat modify the habits of this bird, where, living 

 in the midst of the vast steppes, it feeds, not on fish, for it is 

 unprocurable, but on small quadrupeds, birds, and carrion. This 

 bird nearly attains to the size of the Golden Eagle. 



The BALD EAGLE, WHITE-HEADED EAGLE, or SEA EAGLE (Fig. 

 282), is a native of North America. It builds its nest on the summit 

 of the highest trees. Its flight is as powerful as that of the 

 Golden Eagle, and its strength and adroitness are even greater. 



This Eagle (Halmetus leucocephalus, Vig.) is represented on the 

 flag of the United States. The illustrious Franklin with sorrow 

 regretted the selection his nation had made. 



" It is a bird of low and evil nature," wrote Franklin in one of 

 his letters ; " it does not know how to gain its livelihood honestly. 

 Added to this, it is nothing but a cowardly rogue. The little 

 Wren, which is not so large as a Sparrow, resolutely attacks it, 

 and drives it from its haunts ! Thus in no point of view is it a 

 suitable emblem for a brave and honourable nation." 



The varieties of this family are numerous on the North American 

 continent, but the distinctions are not sufficiently great to deserve 

 particular notice. Those from other portions of the globe most 

 worthy of attention are the Marine Eagle (P auction ichthyaetus), 

 which inhabits Java ; the Piscivorous Sea Eagle (Cuncuma vocifer) ; 

 the Caffir Sea Eagle, discovered in Africa by Levaillant ; the Sea 

 Eagle of Mace ( C. Macei) ; and the Pondicherry Eagle, called by 

 some the Sea Eagle of India, which inhabits India and Bengal, 

 where the bird is an object of veneration among the Brahmins, 

 being consecrated to Vishnu. 



We shall class with the same genus the OSPREY (Fig. 283), 

 which, although different from Sea Eagles in certain details of 

 organisation, is, however, allied to them by its aquatic habits. 



It prefers the neighbourhood of ponds and rivers to the sea- 

 shore, where it is frequently mistaken for the Sea Eagle. Wild 



