(JO WHITE-HEADED OR BALD EAGLE. 



ments. Their sight, although probably as perfect as that of any bird, is 

 much affected during a fall of snow, at which time they may be approached 

 without difficulty. 



The White-headed Eagle seldom appears in very mountainous districts, 

 but prefers the low lands of the sea-shores, those of our large lakes, and the 

 borders of rivers. It is a constant resident in the United States, in every 

 part of which it is to be seen. The roosts and breeding places of pigeons are 

 resorted to by it, for the purpose of picking up the young birds that happen 

 to fall, or the old ones when wounded. It seldom, however, follows the 

 flocks of these birds when on their migrations. 



When shot at and wounded, it tries to escape by long and quickly repeated 

 leaps, and, if not closely pursued, soon conceals itself. Should it happen to 

 fall on the water, it strikes powerfully with expanded wings, and in this 

 manner often reaches the shore, when it is not more than twenty or thirty 

 yards distant. It is capable of supporting life without food for a long period. 

 I have heard of some, which, in a state of confinement, had lived without 

 much apparent distress for twenty days, although I cannot vouch for the 

 truth of such statements, which, however, may be quite correct. They defend 

 themselves in the manner usually followed by other Eagles and Hawks, 

 throwing themselves backwards, and furiously striking with their talons at 

 any object within reach, keeping their bill open, and turning their head with 

 quickness to watch the movements of the enemy, their eyes being apparently 

 more protruded than when unmolested. 



It is supposed that Eagles live to a very great age, — some persons have 

 ventured to say even a hundred years. On this subject, I can only observe, 

 that I once found one of these birds, which, on being killed, proved to be a 

 female, and which, judging by its appearance, must have been very old. Its 

 tail and wing-feathers were so worn out, and of such a rusty colour, that I 

 imagined the bird had lost the power of moulting. The legs and feet were 

 covered with large warts, the claws and bill were much blunted; it could 

 scarcely fly more than a hundred yards at a time, and this it did with a 

 heaviness and unsteadiness of motion such as I never witnessed in any other 

 bird of the species. The body was poor and very tough. The eye was the 

 only part which appeared to have sustained no injury. It remained sparkling 

 and full of animation, and even after death seemed to have lost little of its 

 lustre. No wounds were perceivable on its body. 



The White-headed Eagle is seldom seen alone, the mutual attachment 

 which two individuals form when they first pair seeming to continue until 

 one of them dies or is destroyed. They hunt for the support of each other, 

 and seldom feed apart, but usually drive off other birds of the same species. 

 They commence their amatory intercourse at an earlier period than any other 



