FALCONIB^—BUTEONIN^: EAGLES. 



555 



tarsus varies in this species; there is normally a short row of scales in 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 6 emarginate on inner webs. Tail rounded, graduated or cuneate, of 12 rec- 

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

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

 another occurs in Greenland ; a third (H. pelagicus) may be expected in Alaska. 



Analysis of Species. 



Adult with head and tail white leucocephahts 534 



Adult with tail only white albicilla 633 



533. H. albicil'la. (Lat. alUdlla, white-tailed.) White-tailed Sea Eagle. Adult ^ ? : 

 Dark brown, blackening on primaries, the head and neck gray, the tail white. BiU and feet 



Fig. 384. — Bald Eagle. (From Tenney, after Wilson. ) 



yellow. Young with tail not white, and otherwise different. Eather larger than the next 

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

 B34. H. leucoceph'alus. (Gr. XevKos, leueos, white ; Ke(f)aK^, Jcephale, head. Pig. 384.) White- 

 headed Sea Eagle. "Bald Eagle." "Bird of Washington" (the young). Adult.- 

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

 about 3 feet ; extent 6 or 7 feet ; wing 2 feet (?) or less ($); tail a foot, more ( 9 ) or less ( ^ ) . 

 Three years are required for the perfection of the 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 pii'atical parasite of the osprey : otherwise notorious 

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

 about 3.00X2.S0. 



