328 The Bald Eagle 



season goes on, there is added to this an accumulation of bones from the 

 fishes, birds, and other animals brought to feed the young. Thus year by 

 year the structure grows, until sometimes it becomes immense. I recall 

 seeing one in eastern North Carolina that must have been over seven feet 

 in thickness from top to bottom. 



Many birds receive names of a more or less descriptive character, as 

 Red-headed Woodpecker, Crossbill, and so forth. It is erroneous, how- 

 ever, to regard the Bald Eagle as a bald-headed bird, 

 Namied * or * ts crown * s we ^ covered. When three years old, 



it passes through a molting-period, which results in 

 the bird's acquiring a white head, neck, and tail. Many Bald Eagles are 

 observed every year that do not possess these white feathers ; such birds, 

 of course, are still in their youthful plumage. At a little distance it is 

 often difficult to distinguish the young of this species from a Golden 

 Eagle ; the latter is rare, however, in the eastern United States. 



In writing of this bird, the great Audubon expresses regret that it 



should have been selected as the national emblem, and refers to the opinion 



of Benjamin Franklin, who wrote : "For my part, I wish the Bald Eagle 



had not been chosen as the representative of our country. He is a bird 



of bad moral character, and does not make his living honestly." After 



speaking of the eagle's habit of constantly robbing the Osprey, Franklin 



continues: "With all this injustice, he is never a good 



case, but, like those among men who live by sharping 



and robbing, he is generally poor. Besides, he is a 



rank coward, the little Kingbird, not bigger than a sparrow, attacks him 



boldly, and drives him from the district." 



Despite this unlovable part of the Bald Eagle's character, the fact 

 remains that it is one of the most interesting of our wild birds, and it 

 would indeed be a calamity if its race should be exterminated. In regions 

 where the birds become a source of serious loss to the sheep-raisers, we 

 cannot well blame men for occasionally killing these raiders of the sheep- 

 fold, but wanton shooting of this fine bird should be strenuously dis- 

 couraged. 



Classification and Distribution 



The Bald Eagle belongs to the Order Raptores, and to the Family Buteonida: 

 Its scientific name is Haliaetus leucocephalus. It is resident throughout North 

 America from Mexico to the northern limit of tree-growtli ; but those in the 

 extreme north are separated as the subspecies H. I. alascanus. 



This and other Educational Leaflets are for sale, at 5 cents each, by the National Association o/ 

 Audubon Societies. ig?4 Broadway. New York City. Lists given on request. 



