NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 183 



[351.] Haliseetus albicilla (Linn.) [452.] 



Gray Sea Eagle> 



Hab. Northern portions of Europe and Asia; Greenland. 



A large dusky-brown species known as the White-tailed or Gray- 

 Sea Eagle. Included in our North American fauna upon its occurrence 

 in Southeastern Greenland. It is common to the sea coasts of Europe 

 and is rarely found inland. Breeds on the coasts of Great Britain ; its 

 most favorite haunts being the shores and islands of the northern and 

 western coasts of Scotland ; the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland Islands, 

 where it nests on the rocky cliffs projecting over water. The nests are 

 made of sticks or seaweed. Trees are also resorted to, though much 

 less frequently. This Eagle also breeds on the coasts of Denmark, 

 Norway and Sweden, and those of Russia. 



The eggs are two or three in number, plain white, but occasion- 

 ally with small faint spots of light brown. A set of two eggs is in Mr. 

 Norris' collection, taken in Sweden, May 17, 1885. They are of a dull 

 white, nest stained, and measure 2.89x2.21, 2.73x2.20. 



352. Haliffietus leucocephalus (Linn.) [451- J 



Bald Eagle. 



Hab. Whole of North America, sonth to Mexico. 



This great bird is common everywhere in North America. It 

 passes through three stages of plumage ; the first year the young are 

 very dark-colored and are erroneously called " Black Eagles," the second 

 they are " Gray Eagles," and are usually larger than the old birds. 

 The residence of the White-headed Eagle is greatly influenced by the 

 abundance of food, especially that of fish. It is found as far north as 

 the Arctic Circle, and south as far as Florida and Texas. Breeds in 

 the interior Arctic regions on the borders of lakes and rivers. Not an 

 uncommon summer resident in Labrador, and breeds from thence 

 southward along the Atlantic coast to Florida. Common resident of 

 Oregon and Washington Territory. It is particularly common along 

 the Columbia River, where the supply of fish is abundant. The 

 eggs are deposited from December to April, according to locality. 

 The Bald Eagle is not the sluggish, fish-eating bird that some 

 writers state it to be, devoid of energy, obtaining its living by 

 robbing the industrious Osprey. It has been known to swoop 

 down upon flocks of Geese, Brant, Duck and Coot, select a par- 

 ticular bird, when the flocks scattered, and successfully carry off 

 its victim to the nearest sand-bar. If it is a goose, and too heavy, 

 both birds fall into the water, when the Eagle literally tows the prize 

 along the surface until the shore is reached.* This bird also captures 



* Wm. Brewster: Bull. Nutt. Club, Vol. V, pp. 57-58. 



