BIRDS OP PENNSYLVANIA. 95 



half dead, suddenly, as if by magic, changed, as it were, into a new 

 being; body erect, feathers close to the body, tail expanded, the 

 sunken eyes with ten-fold increased lustre, followed with argus gaze 

 every motion of the bag and occupant; soon as grimalkin was liber- 

 ated the eagle swooped down and grasped it. If the cat was of ordi- 

 nary size, Nero displayed little concern in dispatching it ; but if it was 

 a Thomas feline, of huge dimensions, all the powers of the bird were 

 brought into requisition. Then the true nature of the eagle was seen. 

 The eyes, before bright, now shone like balls of fire, the crest feathers 

 standing up, and the contraction of the massive femoral muscles were 

 discernable ; his voice, before hushed, now added discord to the dying 

 yells of his struggling victim, so inextricably fixed in his relentless 

 talons. He could kill a cat in from two to five minutes. Commonly, 

 the eagle would grasp the cat around the small -of the back with one 

 foot, with the other he encircled the neck, thus retaining his hold 

 until the animal had ceased its struggles, which were soon over, as 

 they were greatly augmented by fright and excessive violence of ac- 

 tion. When the cat became quiet the eagle would raise his wings, 

 which he had allowed to drop, draw his body up as high as possible 

 from his prey, and proceed leisurely to tear off the skin from his cap- 

 tive's back and side, exposing the muscles and viscera, which he ate." 



In reference this eagle, Audubon says : u They are capable of re- 

 maining without food for several days at a time, and eat voraciously 

 whenever they find an opportunity. 



" Young fawns, raccoons, hares, wild turkeys and other large birds 

 are their usual food; and they devour putrid flesh only when hard 

 pressed by hunger, none alighting on carrion at any other time." 



GENUS HALLffiETUS. SAVIGNY. 

 352. Haliaeetus leucocephalus (LINN.). 



Bald Eagle. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Bill large, strong, straight at the base, rather abruptly hooked ; wings long ; tarsi 

 rather short. 



A'hiJt. Head, tail, and its upper and under coverts, white ; entire other plumage 

 brownish-black, generally with the edges of the feathers paler ; bill, feet and irides, 

 yellow. 



Younger. Entire plumage, including head and tail, dark-brown ; paler on the 

 throat ; edges of the feathers paler or fulvous, especially on the under parts ; tail 

 more or less mottled with white, which color, in more advanced age, extends over 

 a large portion of the tail, especially on the inner webs ; bill brownish-black ; irides 

 brown. 



Male, Length about 34 inches ; extent of wings about 7 feet Female larger, 

 measuring sometimes 8 feet in extent. 



. Xorth America at large, south to Mexico. 



