THE AMERICAN EAGLE. 
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the small spotted woodpecker, roam about in search of insects and 
their larvfe, berries, and seeds. Their long, soft, downy plumage 
enables them to brave the winter cold of the far Northern lands 
with as much indifference as an Arctic explorer. 
ABOUT THE EAGLE. 
We must now direct the reader's attention to " larger game." As 
everybody knows, the eagle has been adopted as its heraldic emblem 
by the great American Republic. The particular species thus honoured 
is known as the bald-headed American eagle ; and to persons 
acquainted with his character the choice does not seem felicitous. So 
thought Benjamin Franklin. " I wish," he says, " the bald eagle had 
not been chosen as the representative of our country. He is a bird of 
bad moral character ; he does not get his living honestly. You may 
have seen him perched on some dead tree, where, too lazy to fish for 
himself, he watches the labours of the fishing-hawk ; and when that 
diligent bird has at length taken a fish, and is bearing it to his nest 
for the support of his mate and young ones, the bald eagle pursues and 
takes it from him. AVith all this injustice, he is never in good ease. 
