FALCONS, HAWKS; EAGLES, ETC. 



207 



" It seems to be nowhere a common species in the east, but it is 

 much more numerous in the mountainous parts of the far west. It is 

 confined chiefly to the mountains and more northern latitudes, where 

 it breeds. It is able to endure intense cold, and sometimes remains 

 far north in winter. In fact, its movements at that season are more 

 in the form of wandering for food than regular migration to the south. 



" The food consists mainly of mammals and birds, of which sper- 

 mophiles, rabbits, fawns, iambs, turkeys, grouse, waterfowl, and other 

 large birds form the principal part, though ofEal and carrion are some- 

 times taken. ... Of 6 stomachs examined, 1 contained feathers; 2, 

 mammals ; 3, carrion ; and 1 was empty " (Fisher). 



351. HaJiseetus a/lbicilla/ (Linn.). Gray Sea Eagle. Ad. — Tail 

 white, rest of plumage varying from grayish, brown to fuscous. Im. — " With 

 plumage largely light cinnamon-brown or isabella-color. i L., 31-00-34-00 ; 

 W., 23-00-26-00; T., 11-50-12-00" (Eidgw.). 



Range. — Northern parts of the Old World; Greenland. 

 Nest., on clifts or in trees. Eggs, two to three, dull white, " occasionally 

 with small, faint spots of light brown" (Davie), 3-00 x 2-35. 

 This is a common species in Greenland. 



352. Haliseetus leucocephalus {Linn.). Bald Eagle. Ad.— 

 Head, neck, and tail white, rest of the plumage fuscous ; bill yellow ; tarsus 

 not fully feathered. Im. — Fuscous, more 

 or less varied with white ; tail fuscous, 

 more or less mottled with white, particu- 

 larly on the inner vanes of the feathers ; 

 bill black. S L., 32-85 ; Ex., 84-10 ; W., 

 22-00 ; T., 11-90 ;. B., 2-48. 9 L., 35-50 ; 

 Ex., 89-00 ; W., 24-00 ; T., 12-25 ; Weight, 

 12 lbs. 



Bange. — North America, breeding 

 throughout its range. 



Washington, not common P. E. Sing 

 Sing, common P. K. Cambridge, of ir- 

 regular occurrence at all seasons. 



Nest, generally in tall trees. Fggs, 

 two to three, dull white, 2-85 x 2-20. 



Bald Eagles are seldom found 

 far from the water. Here they may 

 be seen soaring overhead, winging 

 their way to and from their feeding 

 ground, or occupying some favorite 

 perch, generally in an exposed posi- 

 tion. They subsist principally upon fish. As a last resort they some- 

 times capture these themselves, but dead fish cSfet up on the shore 



Fig. 72.— Foot of Bald Eagle. 



