WHITE-HEADED EAGLE. 435 



shonld he accidentally meet with one of these who has his craw crammed with carrion, 

 he attacks it fiercely in the aii ; the cowardly Vulture instantly disgorges, and the deli- 

 cious contents are snatched np by the Eagle before they reach the ground." 



From Dr. Brewer's description I take following paragraph respecting 

 the habits of this Bird : 



" The White-headed Eagle appeared to be equally adapted by nature for the endur- 

 ance of heat or cold, and is apparently indifferent to either. Its residence is influenced 

 only by its abundance of food, especially that offish ; and it seems to matter very little 

 whether that plenty is procurable within the Arctic Circle or on the coast and rivers of 

 Florida and Texas. In places like the Falls of Niagara, where the stream is ever liable 

 to contribute the remains of animals destroyed by the descent of the torrent, this Eagle 

 is especially abundant. Unscrupulous, greedy, voracious, not select in its choice of food, 

 and capable of providing for itself when necessity compels, we find this not altogether 

 unsuitable emblem of our country, now enacting the tyrant and robber and plundering 

 the Pish Hawk of the fruits of its industry, now sharing with the Kaven and Vulture 

 the dead Salmon of the Columbia, and in other places diving for and catching its own 

 fish. The impetuosity with which it pursues, overtakes, and robs the Fish Hawk, bear- 

 ing off a fish it has just taken, must be witnessed to be appreciated ; and the swiftness 

 with which the Eagle can dart down upon and seize the booty, which the Hawk has 

 been compelled to let fall, before it reaches the water, is not the least wonderful feature 

 of this striking performance. On the banks of the Columbia where [when] there are no 

 Fish Hawks to depend upon, the bird finds an easy subsistence on the vast numbers of 

 dead salmon which abound ; and in Florida, Mr. Allen has observed it dive and catch its 

 own fish. This is also confirmed by statements of other naturalists, Wilson also accuses 

 this Eagle of destroying great numbers of young pigs in the Southern States, young 

 lambs and even sickly sbeep ; and in one instance it attempted to carry off a child, 

 which was only saved by its dress giving way." 



Of the breeding habits of the White-headed Eagle in this State, Dr. 

 Kirtland (Fam. Visitor, 1. c), gives the following account : 



" For many years a pair of Eagles resorted to a nest in a stately oak tree standing on 

 the high precipice near the shore of the Lake in Eockport, five miles west of this city. 

 Nothing occurred to interrupt them until five years ago — during a severe storm their 

 favorite tree was prostrated to the ground in the month of November or December. 

 Early in the ensuing spring they were observed constructing a new nest in the top 

 of another very large and lofty oak, in the same vicinity, in which to rear their young 

 that season. The following spring the female was shot by a hunter. The male im- 

 mediately disappeared, and was not again seen here until the next winter, when he 

 appeared accompanied by a new mate. The pair took possession of the deserted nest, 

 made extensive repairs, and prepared to raise their brood. Since then we have watched 

 their habits with great interest. * * * During summer they may be seen daily 

 perched upon some high tree hanging over the precipitous shores of the lake. From 

 that altitude they can readily discover any dead fish floating upon the surface of the 

 water for a great distance. From this source they obtain their food so long as the lake 

 remains free from ice, but when this freezes over, and the weather becomes severely 

 cold, they forage the country in search of dead carcases about the farm." 



