BALD EAGLE. 



101 



In the spring when the ice in the rivers and bays is breaking up, the 

 Bald Eagle often becomes very abundant and may be seen on a cake of 

 ice floating back and forth with the tide or perched on some tree near 

 the shore. On the Hudson Kiver Dr. E. A. Mearns states that he 

 has seen twenty-five in sight at once, and the writer, on the border of 

 the same river, has observed nine individuals in one tree. 



Like most other birds of prey, this Eagle makes a gentle and inter- 

 esting pet when taken young, though there is always some danger of it 

 being vicious towards strangers. In localities where the bird is little 

 molested it is not at all shy, but in other sections where war is continu- 

 ally waged against it, it is very difficult to approach. 



The flight is strong, although having the appearance of being labored 

 at times, and the bird is capable of carrying a weight exceeding its 

 own. At a distance the note of the Bald Eagle is not altogether un- 

 pleasant, resembling somewhat that of the sea gulls, but near by it is 

 grating and suggests a maniacal laugh. Audubon states that the flesh 

 of the young eagles is very good and resembles veal in taste. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Lower third of leg naked all around. This character will separate it 

 in any plumage from the Golden Eagle, which is the only other Eagle 

 in the United States. 



Length: 30 to 43 inches (760 to 1090 ram ) ; extent, 80 to 96 inches (2030 

 to 2440 mm ); wing, 20 to 28 inches (510 to 710 mra ); tail, 11 to 16 inches 

 (280 to 405 mm ). 



Table showing the results of examinations of 21 stomachs of the Bald Eagle 

 (JUaliceetus leucocephalus). 



Locality. 



Date. 



Poultry 



or game 



birds. 



Other birds. 



Mammals. 



Miscellaneous. 



Sandy Spring, Md 



Jan. 28,1887 

 Aug. 30, 1886 

















Sunfish 



Do 









Fish 



Sing Sing, N. Y 



Paint Rock, Tex 



Feb. 27, 1881 

 Jan. 28,1887 

 Jan. 13,1888 

 Dec. 5,1889 

 Nov. 26, 1883 

 Nov. 10, 1884 

 Jan. 15,1885 

 Oct. 29,1888 

 Dec. 1882 

 Mar. 17, 1885 

 Sept. 15, 1874 

 Mar. 12,1875 

 June 2,1876 

 Aug. 17, 1876 

 Feb. 15,1878 



Mar. 27, 1883 

 Jan. 8, 1888 

 Dec. 11,1891 









Goldfish 







2 prairie dogs . . . 





Gainesville, Ma 









Fredericksburg, Va . . . 

 Rushville, 111 









Empty. 

















Fish. 



Do 







Rats 





Raleigh, 1ST. C 









Do. 



Norfolk, Va 



Duck... 









Isle of Haut, Me 









Empty. 

 Eels. 



Highland Falls, N.Y.. 









Putnam County, N. V . 









Empty. 

 Goldfish. 



Dutchess County.N.Y. 









Putnam County, 1ST. Y . 









Empty. 



Striped bass; 

 fork-tailed cat- 

 fish. 



Empty. 



West Point, N. Y 









Garrisons, Putnam 









County, 17. Y. 

 Mogollon Mountains, 









Ariz. 

 Harrison, S. Dak 





















Summaky.— Of 21 stomachs examined, 1 contained a game bird; 5, mammals; 9, fish; 2, carrion; and 

 5 were empty. 



