LIST AND DESCRIPTION 87 



from the latter by the white head, neck and tail. The balance of 

 the body is dark brown, and the legs bare. During the first 

 year the young are nearly black, including the head; the second 

 year they are gray, and not until the third year do they take on 

 the plumage of the adults. Their nesting and feeding habits are 

 similar to those of the Golden Eagle. 



The Bald Eagle is used as our national emblem, and is 

 represented on our different coins. 



During the Civil War the 8th Wisconsin Regiment carried 

 a Bald Eagle as a mascot. It was known as "Old Abe," and 

 became a noted bird, being exhibited at Philadelphia during the 

 Centennial in 1876. Later its body was preserved in the State 

 capitol at Madison. 



354. GRAY GYRFALCON (Falco rusticolus rusticolus.) 



A rare winter visitor in South Dakota; breeds in the 

 Arctic regions. Twenty to twenty-four inches in length, female 

 the larger. Above, brownish gray. Under parts streaked with 

 gray and white. Legs feathered to the toes. The pair in the 

 University Museum were taken in Miner County. 



355. PRAIRIE FALCON (Falco mexicanus.) 



A rather common bird in our State west of the Missouri 

 River, nesting frequently on shelving cliffs in the badlands. 



It is about eighteen to twenty inches in length, the female 

 being the larger. The sexes are similar in plumage, being 

 brownish gray on the back and lighter on head and neck. The 

 under parts are white with dark brown streaks on throat and 

 breast. The young are marked with rufous above and brown 

 buff below. Unlike true Hawks, the Falcons have a toothed 

 beak. 



356a. DUCK HAWK (Falco peregrimis anatum.) 



This Hawk is frequently seen in the State, though it is 

 not common. It is about the size of No. 355 but has longer toes. 

 Its peculiar characteristic is black spots on the sides of the 

 throat. Back, wings and tail are bluish slate with irregular dark 

 gray bars. Below, buff with black markings running to bars 

 on the flanks and extreme lower parts. 



On account of its great strength much of its food consists 

 of game birds and if abundant it would be considered destructive. 



