FALC0NID2E — B UTEONINJE : EA GLES. 



555 



533. 



tai'Ros varies in this species; there is normally a shc^rt niw of scales iu front, discontinued 

 about the bases of the toes, where are granular reticulations, the scutellation being resumed 

 further on the toes. Wings pointed by 3d-5th quills ; 2d nearly equal to 6th : 1st longer 

 than 9th ; 5 to C emargiuate on inner webs. Tail rounded, graduated or cnneate, of 13 rec- 

 trices (14 in the Asiatic H. pelagicus). Feathers of neck all around lance-acute, discrete. 

 About 8 species of this genus are recognized; one of tliem is appropriate to this continent; 

 anotlier occurs in Greenland ; a third (li. pelagicus) may be expected in Alaska. 



Anahjdii of Spt'cies. 



Adult with head and tail white leucocephalus 534 



Adult with tail only white alblciUa 533 



H. albicil'la. (Lat. alhicilla, white-tailed.) White-tailed Sea Eagle. Adult $ ?: 

 Dark brown, blackening on primaries, tli(^ iiead and neck gray, the tail white. Bill and feet 



Fig. 384.~Bal(I Eagk'. (From Teuiiey, afler Wilson.) 



yellow. Young with tail not wliitc, and otherwise different. Rather larger than the next 

 species. Europe, etc., only North American as occurring iu Greenland. 

 534. H. leucoceph'alus. (Gr. Xevkot, ?ei«co.s', wliite ; KfrpaA?;, ifjj/frtZe, head. Fig. .384.) Wiitte- 

 HEADBD Sea Eagle. " Bald Eagle." " Bii;d of Washington" (the young). Adult: 

 $ 9 : Dark brown ; quills black ; head and tail white ; bill, eyes, and feet yellow. Length 

 about 3 feet ; extent (S or 7 feet ; wing 2 feet C 9 ) "v less ( <?' ) ; tail a f, lot, more ( 9 ) or less ( ^ ) . 

 Three years are required for the perfection (jf tlie white head and tail of the "bald" eagle. 

 The first year, the young are "black" eagles; very dark colored, with fleecy white bases 

 of the feathers showing here and there ; bill black ; iris brown ; feet yellow. The next 

 year, they are "gray" eagles, and usually larger than the old birds, the largest known 

 specimens being of this kind. Young in the down are sooty-gray. N. Am. anywhere 

 common— for an eagle; piscivorous; a piratical parasite of the osprey : otherwise notorious 

 as the emblem of the repubhc. Nest on trees or cUffs ; eggs ordinarily 2, white, unmarked 

 about 3.00X2.50. " ' 



