238 



OEDEES OP BIEDS— BIEDS OF PKEY 



as to its identity was ended satisfactorily by 

 some who oracularly pronounced it an "eagle 

 bird." 



But, no matter how many persons there are 

 in this country who do not know our national 

 bird, I will not humiliate "Old Baldy" by for- 

 mally introducing him. To every intelhgent 

 American, the perfect bird, with its snow-white 

 head, neck and tail, is recognizable at a distance 

 of a mile or more. To see one perching on the 

 topmost branch of a dead tree, overlooking a 

 water prospect, with its snowy head shining 

 in the sunlight like frosted silver, is enough to 

 thrUl any beholder. Even when in flight, an 

 eagle can be distinguished from all other birds 

 by its slow and powerful wing-strokes, and the 

 great breadth of its wings, especially "near their 

 extremities. 



It is unfortunate that this Eagle does not 

 acquire its white head and tail until its fourth 

 year. The head is fully feathered, and the name 

 "Bald" refers solely to its white appearance. 

 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 feath- 

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



As a rule — to which there are numerous ex- 

 ceptions — 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 neat- 

 ness 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 subject 

 bird. Taken thus at a great disadvantage, the 

 fish-hawk has no option but to drop its fish, 

 and go away to catch another, 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 dupUcate 

 fish, is by a few writers taken seriously to heart. 

 So is the additional fact that Eagles — Hke 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 (I), 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 ap- 

 propriate ! 



Against all of this, I have nothing to say. The 

 American Eagle needs no defence from me. 

 Whether 



" He clasps the crag with hooked hands, 

 Close to the sun in lonely lands," 



or perches defiantly on the United States coat- 

 of-arms, with a brow to threaten or command, 

 he is beloved by at least seventy-two million 

 people who will rise as one whenever he is really 

 in need of defenders. Abroad, it once was well- 

 nigh an international fashion to flout this bird, 

 and the standard he bears; but since May 1, 1900, 

 that fashion has gone out. Abroad, those who 

 do not respect this bird fear him, wholesomely. 

 At home, it is quite time for aU strangers to 

 secure an introduction to him, and for some of 

 those who should be his friends but are not, to 

 write him down no longer. 



In its distribution, this Eagle ranges over 

 the whole of North America from Mexico to 

 Kamchatka. Considering the size of this bird, 

 it holds its own remarkably well, even in New 

 England. In Florida it is very abundant all 

 along Indian River, and in one locality in the 

 State of Washington it is so numerous that its 

 depredations on the flocks of sheep-raisers are 

 cause for serious complaint and reprisals. 



In the East so many Eagles are caught aUve 

 and offered for sale that it is a difficult matter 

 to find sale for one at $10. This bird so seldom 

 destroys domestic animals, or game-birds, there 

 is no excuse for its destruction save possibly in 

 a few far-western localities where it happens to 

 be very numerous, and evinces a particular fond- 

 ness for lambs. 



About every six months there appears in 

 some newspaper an account of a child having 

 been attacked by a fierce Eagle, and rescued by 

 a heroic mother, or else actually carried off to 

 the top of a tall tree or rocky cliff, from which 

 the child was finally rescued unhurt, etc., etc. 

 It is quite time that this absurd yarn, which is 

 nearly as old as the Swiss Alps in which it origi- 

 nated, were consigned to the oblivion it deserves. 

 Eagles know what guns are, and nothing ia 



