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The Sharp-shinned Hawk, a terror to small ground-living animals. is one of more than two linzrii 

 species of birds of prey found in the Northwest Territories. 



ment of plumage even when adult. Also, in the area to the west 

 of Hudson Bay there is a mingling of the Rocky Mountain and 

 even the west coast species with the eastern forms, with some 

 typically Arctic forms (such as the beautiful Gyrfalcons, the 

 Marsh Harrier, and others), and with Redwings and Broadwings 

 from the south. Goshawks are common along with Harlan's and 

 Sharp-shinned Hawks and Rough-legs. Peregrines (Duck Hawks) 

 are very common and Merlins (Pigeon Hawks) are numerous in 

 many areas. Then, there is another predatory bird that holds a 

 special position in our esteem and which is common in this 

 country. This is the Bald-headed Eagle, which has long been the 

 national symbol of the United States. 



This fine bird has now become quite widely rumored to be a 

 •second-hand" fisherman, relying on others to catch its prey, and 

 It has even been dubbed a coward and a scavenger. I have talked 

 to a considerable number of field naturalists who have observed 

 these birds over long periods and at points all the way from 

 Florida to the Arctic, and I must say that, while the Bald Eagle 

 may justifiably be accused of indulging in such habits from time 

 to time, there is no justification for assigning to it a sort of 

 second-class status among birds of prey. It certainly hunts over 

 land and fishes over water for itself in the north, and with 



extraordinary adroitness at the latter, as 1 can confirm from 

 watching one in a gorge in this territory. The bird was a large 

 adult in full plumage and worked up and down the river 

 systematically without ever flapping a wing. I was perched on 

 the edge of the cliff above it. and it presented a magnificent 

 spectacle as it came riffling by, sometimes not more than a few 

 feet from my place of concealment. Twice during the hour while 

 1 watched, though both times unfortunately when it was farthest 

 from me downstream on its circuit, it tilted and swooped down 

 on the racing surface of the river and appeared to belly-flop on 

 the water with outstretched wings, making a great splash. Then, 

 hefting a very large fish, it heaved itself into the air with one 

 wing beat, flapped violently once or twice, cunningly caught an 

 updraft. and just sailed upward in a light spiral, gaining the rim 

 of the canyon in an amazingly short space of time. In each 

 instance, it took the fish somewhere and must have dropped or 

 stashed it away, for almost immediately it came sailing back 

 again into the gorge, just topping the trees on its rim. I would 

 sorely like to have seen just what it did with those fish so 

 quickly, more especially because when I asked an .\merindian 

 professional hunter. I got a story that I had never heard before. 

 This was to the effect that these birds deliberately drop large 



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