BIRDS OF KANSAS. 275 



than twice the length of the cere on top; commissure with a more or less dis- 

 tinct festoon and sinuatiou behind it. Nostril oval, obliquely vertical. Feet 

 robust and strong, the tarsus less than one and one-half times the middle 

 toe; tarsus feathered in front and on the sides for about one-half its length; 

 front of the tarsus and top of the toes with an imperfect continuous series of 

 transverse scutellfe, entirely interrupted in the region of the digito-tarsal joint; 

 the other portions covered with roundish, somewhat granular scales, these larger 

 on the posterior face. Claws large, strongly curved, and more obtuse, and less 

 graduated in size, than in Aquila. No trace of a web between outer and middle 

 toes. Wing very large, the primaries well developed and strong; third to fifth 

 quill the longest; first longer than ninth; outer five to six with inner webs 

 deeply emarginated. Tail variable in length and shape, usually short and 

 rounded, cuneate, and with twelve feathers. Feathers of the neck, all round, 

 lanceolate." 



Haliseetus leucocephalus (LIXN.)- 



BALD EAGLE. 

 PLATE XVIII. 



Resident; rare; not uncommon in winter. Begin laying 

 about the middle of March. 



B. 41, 43. R. 451. C. 534. G. 212, 129. U. 852. 



HABITAT. The whole of North America; north to Greenland, 

 and west across the Aleutian chain to Commander Islands, 

 Kamtchatka. 



SP. CHAE. Adult: With head and neck pure white, in abrupt contrast with 

 color of the body; tail coverts also white. Young: With plumage blackish, 

 grayish brown and white, without cinnamon brown or Isabella color. Adult: 

 Head, neck, tail coverts and tail entirely white; .rest of plumage dusky grayish 

 brown, varying to brownish black (the margins of the feathers usually paler). 

 Immature, second or third year: Head and neck blackish, the lanceolate feath- 

 ers of hind neck tipped with pale brownish, all the feathers pure white beneath 

 the surface; upper parts mixed grayish brown and blackish, usually with more 

 or less admixture of whitish; tail blackish, the inner webs of feathers more or 

 less blotched or "spattered" with whitish; lower parts mixed white and dusky, 

 either color predominating, according to the individual. Young, first year: 

 Whole plumage nearly uniform black, the feathers of lower parts, however, with 

 their bases white, this more or less concealed in places, producing a somewhat 

 spotted or blotched appearance. Downy young: Uniform sooty gray. (Ridg- 

 way.) 



Stretch of 

 Length. wing. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. Cere. 



Male 32.00 79.00 22.00 11.50 8.40 2.18 .80 



Female... 35.25 84.50 24.00 12.75 8.50 2.22 .90 



Iris grayish white, tinged with yellow; bill and cere light yel- 

 low; legs and feet brownish to lemon yellow. 



This national bird is quite common along the seacoast and 



