40 ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 



the head and neck of that bird always retain more or 

 less of a brownish tinge, seldom changing fully into 

 gray, and never turning completely vv^hite. These ob- 

 servations have been made upon numerous individuals, 

 many of them placed for upwards of ten years under 

 the eyes of various scientific observers : their accuracy 

 may therefore be regarded as unquestionable. The 

 remainder of the plumage in this state is of a deep 

 brown, approaching to black, and strongly contrasted 

 with the head and tail. The colour of the legs, feet, 

 and talons remains nearly the same ; but the iris gene- 

 rally continues to assume a lighter and a lighter hue. 

 The eyes, it should be observed, are deeply sunk in 

 the head, and instead of being placed in a line parallel 

 with that of the cheeks, are directed forwards so as 

 to form with them a considerable angle. 



The White-headed Eagle is usually spoken of as 

 inhabiting the northern parts both of the Old and 

 New Continent ; but it appears to be only a rare and 

 occasional visitant of the fonner. It is probable that 

 some of the varieties of the Common Sea-Eagle of 

 this quarter of the globe have been frequently mis- 

 taken for it. Throughout nearly the whole of North 

 America, on the contrary, where the European species 

 seems to be unknown, it is met with in great abun- 

 dance, as well on the sea-coast, as on the banks of the 

 broad lakes and rapid rivers, from which the chief part 

 of its sustenance is derived. It is generally regarded 

 by the Anglo-Americans with peculiar respect as the 

 chosen emblem of their native land. The great cataract 

 of Niagara is mentioned as one of its favourite places 

 of resort, not merely as a fishing station where it is 

 enabled to satiate its hunger upon its most congenial 

 food, but also in consequence of the vast quantity of 



