WHITE-HEADED, OR BALD EAGLE. m 



of the largest and most perfect specimens I have yet met with. 

 In the background is seen a distant view of the celebrated 

 Cataract of Niagara, a noted place of resort for these birds, 



being still marked with some patches of brown ; but I have found this 

 to be invariably the case with birds in confinement, from three to five 

 years being then required to complete their perfect change, 1 whereas 

 three years is the generally supposed time in a wild state. Fish is 

 preferred to any other food by both, but nothing appears to come amiss 

 to them. 



Savigny established his genus for this form, or for the large bare- 

 legged fishing eagles. They are not so powerfully formed, or so much 

 adapted for rapid flight as the, falcons and eagles. The tarsi are weaker 

 — the tail more graduated — the whole form more inelegant ; and when 

 at rest, the secondaries hang in a drooping and sluggish manner over 

 their wings ; their habits, unless when in search of prey, or in the 

 breeding season, much less daring and active. Such may be said to be 

 the general characters of the group ; our present species, however, 

 seems to have a disposition more akin to the very fiercest : we have 

 seen him to be very savage in his cage ; in his native wilds he seems 

 little less so. Fish is the favourite food, though they do not seem able 

 to take them by plunging, but content themselves with either seizing 

 from the ospreys what they have caught, or, where the water is so 

 shallow as to allow them, clutch the fish without diving. Audubon 

 says it only now and then procures fish for itself. He has seen them 

 several times attempting to take red-fins by wading briskly through 

 the water, and striking at them with their bill. When fish are not to 

 be had, they appear hardly contented with the smaller animals or birds ; 

 pigs and sheep are a common fare, and our author has even mentioned 

 one instance of a child being attacked. The male and female hunt in 

 concert, and it must be when attacking some large-winged game, or water- 

 fowl which have had recourse to the lake or river for safety, that their 

 energies will be best observed. Audubon thus describes a swan hunt : — ■ 



" The next moment, however, the wild trumpet-like sound of a yet 

 distant but approaching swan is heard : a shriek from the female eagle 

 comes across the stream ; for she is fully as alert as her mate. The 

 snow-white bird is now in sight : her long neck is stretched forward ; 

 her eye is on the watch, vigilant as that of her enemy ; her large wings 

 seem with difficulty to support the weight of her body, although they 

 flap incessantly. So irksome do her exertions seem, that her very legs 

 are spread beneath her tail, to aid her in her flight. She approaches : 

 the eagle has marked her for his prey. As the swan is passing the 



1 Mr Audubon mentions having known it six, and says in a wild state they 

 breed the second year in full plumage. 



