XIIL Natural History 



Our Common Birds or Forty Birds that Every Boy 

 Should Know 



THE Bald Eagle or White-headed Eagle (Haliaeios 

 leucocephalus) is the emblem of America. It is 

 three to four feet from beak to tail, and six or 

 seven feet across the wings. When fully adult it is known 

 by its while head, neck and tail, and the brown body; but 

 when young it is brownish black, splashed and marked 

 with dull white. 



The only other eagle found in the United States is the 

 Golden or War Eagle {Aquila chrysaetos). This is a little 

 larger. When full grown it is dark brown, with the basal 

 half of tail more or less white. The plumage of the young 

 birds is somewhat Uke that of the young Bald Eagle; but 

 the two species may always be distinguished by the legs. 

 The War Eagle wears leggings — his legs are feathered to 

 the toes. He is ready for the warpath. The Bald Eagle 

 has the legs bald, or bare on the lower half. 



Redtailed Hawk or Henhawk ( Buteo borealis) . The com- 

 mon hawks of America are very numerous and not easy 

 to distinguish. The best known of the large kinds is the 

 Redtail. This is about two feet long and four feet across 

 the wings. In general it is dark brown above and white 

 beneath, with dark brown marks; the tail is clear reddish 

 with one black bar across near the tip. In young birds 



334 



