WHITE-HEADED EAGLE. 169 



nomination, as its head is as densely feathered as that of any other species, 

 although its whiteness may have suggested the idea of its being bare. 



Falco leucocephalus, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. L p. Vi.\.-Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. i. p. 1 1. 

 Bald Eagle, Lalh. Synops. vol. i. p. 29. — Wilson, Americ. Oniith. vol. iv. p. 89. 



PI. 36. Adult. 

 Sea Eagle, Falco Ossifragus, Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. vii. p. 16. PI. 55. fig. 2. 



Young. 



Adult Male. Plate XXXI. 



Bill shortish, very deep, compressed ; upper mandible with the dorsal 

 outhne at first straight, curved towards the tip, rounded above, sloping 

 and flattish on the sides, nearly straight, with an obtuse process, in the 

 acute, overlapping edges ; the tip deflected, trigonal, acute, at its lower 

 part nearly perpendicular to the gap line ; lower mandible slightly con- 

 vex in its dorsal outline, with inflected acute edges, which are arched to- 

 ward the end, the tip broadly rounded. A naked cere, in the fore part 

 of which are the oblong, oblique, nearly dorsal, open nostrils, which have 

 a process from the anterior margin. Head rather large, flat above. Neck 

 robust, rather short. Body ovate. Feet with the leg long, the tarsus 

 short, feathered in its upper third, rounded, anteriorly covered with trans- 

 verse scutella, posteriorly with large, laterally with small tuberculous 

 scales ; toes robust, free, scutellate above, papillar and scabrous beneath, 

 vdth large tubercles ; claws curved, rounded, marginate beneath, very 

 acute. 



Plumage compact, imbricated, glossy ; feathers of the head, neck and 

 breast, narrow and pointed ; of the back and breast acute, of the other 

 parts broad and rounded. Space between the bill and eye barish, 

 being sparsely covered with bristly feathers. Eyebrow bare and pro- 

 jecting. Wings long, second quill longest, first considerably shorter. 

 Tail of ordinary length, much rounded, extending considerably beyond 

 the tips of the wings ; of twelve, broad, rounded feathers. 



BiU, cere, edge of eyebrow, iris, and feet, yellow ; claws bluish-black. 

 The general colour of the plumage is deep chocolate, the head, neck, tail, 

 abdomen, and upper and under tail-coverts, white. 



Length 34 inches, extent of wings 7 feet ; biU along the back 2| 

 inches, along the under mandible 2|, in depth 1^^ '■> tarsus 3, middle 

 toe 3^. 



