282 RAPTORES. 



The longevity of the Golden Eagle is almost proverbial. One 

 that died in Vienna, (Austria,) is said to have lived in confine- 

 ment one hundred and four years. This species is found 

 throughout the middle and north of Europe, and in North Amer- 

 ica. 



'The BALD or WHITE-HEADED EAGLE, Haliaetos, (Gr.hals, the 

 sea; aetos, an eagle;) leucocephalus, (Gr. white-headed,) is, 

 when full grown, three feet long, and more than seven feet across 

 at the expanse of wings. The general color of the upper parts 

 is a deep, dark brown ; the head, chief part of the neck, and the 

 lower parts are white. The wing is admirably adapted for the 

 support of so large a bird, measuring two feet in breadth on the 

 greater quills, and sixteen inches on the smaller. 



The Bald Eagle is an occasional visitant to the Northern Hem- 

 isphere of the old world ; on this continent it is common, breed- 

 ing, according to Audubon, as far south as Virginia, though its 

 nests are most frequent in the fur countries. 



The ardor and energy of this bird might awaken deep interest 

 were they not associated with so much of robbery and wanton 

 exercise of power ; for it habitually spoils the Osprey or Fish- 

 Hawk, (Plate X. fig. 3, a,) of his watery prey, and will even, in 

 "hard times," steal from the vultures the carrion on which they 

 are feeding. The falls of Niagara are one of its favorite haunts 

 on account of the fish caught there, and the attraction presented 

 by the numerous remains of squirrels, deer and other animals 

 which perish in attempting to cross the river above the cataract. 

 The nest of the Bald Eagle is usually placed on a very tall tree 

 that is destitute of branches to a considerable height ; it is never 

 seen on rocks. Dr. Franklin thus speaks of this eagle, the em- 

 blem of our national union : 



" For my part, I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen as 

 the representative of our country. He is a bird of a bad moral 

 character ; he does not get his living honestly. You may have 

 seen him perched upon some dead tree, where, too lazy to fish 

 for himself, he watches for the labors of the fishing- hawk ; and 

 when that diligent bird has at length taken a fish, and is bearing 

 it to its nest for the support of his mate and young ones, the 

 f Bald Eagle pursues him, and takes it from him. With all this 

 injustice he is never in good case, but like those among men who 

 live by sharping and robbing, he is generally poor, and very oft- 

 en lousy. Besides, he is a rank coward ; the little King-bird, 

 not bigger than a sparrow, attacks him boldly and drives him 

 out of the district. He is therefore by no means a proper emblem 

 for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America, who have driven 



