WHITE-HEADED, OR BALD EAGLE. 325 
WHITE-HEADED, OR BALD EAGLE.*—FALCO LEUCOCE- 
PHALUS. — Fig. 157, 
Lirn S:s 
Ra Lah i. 2. — Le ygareue § (ote blanche, Bu 
i. 99, Pi. enl. 
ALE. = Arvt, Zoe’, 196, No. 89. — d Eagle. Cateshu, i s Museum, 
Na, TS. 
HALLREETCUS LEGCOCEPHALUS. —Saviexy.t 
Aigle & téte blanche, Cur. Rezo. Anim. i. p. 315. — Terns. Mon. i. p. 22. = Faleo 
Jeucocephalus, (sub-gen, Hal:.vetus.) Bonap. Synop. p. 26. — The White-headed 
Eagle, Aud. Orn. Biog. ‘ p. 160, pl. 31, male. — Aquila (Halixeetus) leucoce- 
phala, Vorth. Zool. ii, p. 15. 
Tars distinguished bird, as he 1s the most. beautiful of his tribe in 
this part of the world, and the adopted emblem of our country, is en- 
titled to particular notice. He was drawn from one of the largest and 
most perfect specimens I have yet met with. In the back ground is 
seen a distant ylew of the celebrated Cataract of Niagara, a noted 
place of resort for these birds, as well on account of the fish procured 
* The epithet Bald applied to this species, whose head is thickly covered with 
feathers, is equally improper and absuni with the tides Goatsucker, Kingstisher. &e. 
bestowed on others ; and seems to have been oceasioned by the white appearance 
of the head, when contrasied with the dark color of the rest of the > plumage. The 
appellation, however, being now almost universal. is retained in the following 
ges. 
ie This species and the Sea Eagle of Europe, have been thought to be the same 
by many ori 3 some of a latter date appear still to confound them, and 
to be unable to savsiy themse!ves regarding the distinction. The subject has even 
been left in doudt in a work Suaiehy has been recommended as a texi-book to the 
British student. They are decidedly distinct. the one being the representing form 
of the other in their respectiv € countries. Tue common Sea Eagle, Hadiretus 
awdiciiia, is, I believe, exelasive'y European: the A. lencocephe! jas. according to 
Temminck, is common to the northem hemispheres of both the Ohi and New 
World, though much more abundant in the latter. The adult birds may be at 
once disti hed, and the confusion can only have arisen from the sv 
the young: when closely compared. they will also be found to pes: cons'derable 
distinetions. 
Ta bab.t. too. there is a difference. Thave had both species alive in my posses- 
sion ror several vears ; that of America. more active and restless in disposition, i is 
constantly in motion, and incessantly utters its sbrill barking ery. Both species 
are difficult to be tamed, but the strancer will har!’y allow bis cage to be cleaned 
out. Though four years ald, the be ead and tail have not attained their pure white. 
still marked with some patches of brown; but I have fou: id this to be 
Sty the case with binds in confinement, from three to five years be 
required to camplete their perfect change.t whereas three vears is the generally 
ei time in a wild state. Fish is prefe med to any other food by Both. but 
appears to come amiss to them. 
volished bis genus for this form, or for the larze Barelegyed Fis 
bey are not so powerfully formed, or so much adsored for) rapid ns 
as the Faleons and FE: The tarsi are weaker — the 12°) more graduxie. 
the whole form more inclezant 5 and when at rest, the secondaries hang fa ae 
ing and sluggish mamner over their wings; their habits, usiess when in seareh of 
vor in the broeding season, mueh less daring and active. Such may be said to 
‘the general characters of the group; our present species, however, seems to 
have a dispos! doa more akin to the very fiereest: we have seen him to be very 
t Mr. Audubon mientions having known it six, and siys, in a wild state they breed the 
second ves- “r full PO 
Eag'es. i 
