THE BALD EAGLE MERELY WHITE-HEADED 61 



head and tail until its fourth year. The head is fully feath- 

 ered, and the name "Bald" refers solely to its white appear- 

 ance. Up to three years of age it is of the same general color 

 as the golden eagle, and to distinguish the two species it is 

 necessary to look at the lowest joint (tarsus) of the leg. If 

 it is naked, the bird is a Bald Eagle; but if it is covered with 

 feathers quite down to the toes, it is a golden eagle. 



As a rule — to which there are numerous exceptions — the 

 White-Headed Eagle is found along rivers, and the shores of 

 lakes and ponds containing fish. Fish are its favorite food, 

 and lambs are purely supplementary. As a regular thing, 

 it catches fish out of the water, with neatness and despatch; 

 but when it sees an osprey flying by with a large fish in its 

 talons, the Eagle does not hesitate to levy tribute on the sub- 

 ject bird. Taken thus at a great disadvantage, the fish hawk 

 has no option but to drop its fish, and go away to catch an- 

 other, while the Eagle catches the prize before it touches the 

 water and bears it away. 



This act of the Eagle, and the extra trouble it puts upon 

 the fish hawk in catching duplicate fish, is by a few writers 

 taken seriously to heart. So is the additional fact that 

 Eagles — like many human beings — often eat dead fish that 

 are found floating upon the water, or are cast up on the shore. 

 For these, and other reasons equally weighty (!), it has become 

 almost a fashion among writers to denounce the Bald Eagle, 

 and declare it a shame that such a bird ever was chosen as 

 our national standard-bearer. Some have asserted that the 

 brave and high-minded wild turkey would have been more 

 appropriate ! 



