RAPTORES: FALCONID^E. 135 



thirty-two inches, and the entire plumage dark brown 

 mixed with fulvous. 



The Gray Sea-Eagle, H. albicilla, Cuv., of Greenland 

 and Europe, is thirty-five to forty inches long, the tail 

 white, head and neck yellowish brown, and all the other 

 plumage dark umber-brown. It is very common on the 

 coast of Europe, and builds its nest upon high cliffs. 



The Bald Eagle or White-headed Eagle, H. leiico- 

 cephalus, Savig., of all temperate North America, Green- 

 land, Iceland, and accidental in Europe, is thirty-five to 

 forty inches long, the wing twenty-three to twenty-five 

 inches ; the male thirty to thirty-four inches, the wing 

 twenty to twenty-two inches. The head, and the tail 

 and its coverts, white ; the remaining plumage brownish 

 black ; bill, feet, and irides yellow. Younger individuals 

 have the entire plumage dark brown, bill brownish black, 

 and irides brown. The term " bald " is unfortunate in its 

 application to this eagle, for the white head is as densely 

 feathered as any other part. When moving from one 

 region to another, it flies by continued easy flappings. 

 When searching for prey, it sails with wings extended, 

 and occasionally allowing its legs to hang at their full 

 length. It has the ability of ascending in circular sweeps 

 without any apparent motion of the wings or of the tail, 

 and it often rises in this manner until it disappears from 

 view. When at an immense height, and as if observing 

 an object on the ground, it sometimes closes its wings, 

 and glides towards the earth with such velocity that the 

 eye can scarcely follow it, causing a loud rustling sound 

 like a violent gust of wind among the branches of the 

 forest. The White-headed Eagle prefers the lowlands 

 of the sea-shores and lakes, and the borders of large 

 rivers, and is less frequently seen in mountainous re- 

 gions. The nest, five or six feet in diameter, is placed 

 on a tall tree, and is composed of sticks from three to 



