38 ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 



its tribe. This character consists in the pure whiteness 

 of its head and neck, from whence it has derived the 

 popular, but inappropriate, title of the Bald Eagle, by 

 which it is most commonly known. 



The young, according to Wilson, are at first covered 

 with a thick whitish or cream-coloured cottony down ; 

 they gradually become of a gray colour as their plumage 

 developes itself, and continue of a brown gray until the 

 third year, when the white begins to make its appear- 

 ance upon tlie head, neck, tail-coverts, and tail. These, 

 by the end of the fourth year, are completely white, or 

 at the most very slightly tinged with cream-colour. 

 The eye is at first hazel, but gradually brightens into 

 a brilliant straw-colour, as the plumage of the head 

 becomes white. This account of the metamorphoses 

 in colour of the White-headed Sea-Eagle, derived from 

 the personal observations of the accurate author of the 

 American Ornithology, has been in a great measure 

 verified under our own inspection in the specimen now 

 before us, which remained for several years in the pos- 

 session of Mr. Brookes, before it was presented by him 

 to the Society. During a considerable part of the time 

 it was regarded as the Common Sea-Eagle ; and it was 

 not until its gradual change of plumage had at length 

 rendered obvious its true character, that it was ascer- 

 tained to be in reality a distinct species. The same 

 error appears frequently to have existed with regard to 

 it ; and M. Temminck observes that the only mark of 

 distinction that can be traced in it until it has assumed 

 the adult colouring, consists in the somewhat greater 

 length of its tail. He might, however, have added its 

 smaller size, which is probably one-fourth less than 

 that of the preceding bird, at the same age and under 

 similar circumstances. From the observations which 

 we have been enabled to make upon the subject, we 



