34 BALD EAGLE. 
nearly to tlie feet, and are also streaked longitudinally with dark brown. 
The irides of the eye^ of this bird have been hitherto described as being 
of a brilliant yellow ; but every si^ecimcn I have yet met with had the 
iris of a deep hazel. I must therefore follow nature, in 02:)position to 
very numerous and respectable authorities. 
I cannot, in imitation of EurojDean naturalists, embellish the history 
of this species with anecdotes of its exploits in falconry. This science, 
if it may be so called, is among the few that have never yet travelled 
across tlie Atlantic ; neither does it appear that the idea of training 
our hawks or ea;j;les to the chase ever sussested itself to any of the 
Indian nations of North America. The Tartars, however, from whom, 
according to certain writers, may of these nations originated, have long 
excelled in the practice of this sport ; M'hich is indeed better suited to 
an open country than to one covered with forest. Though once so 
honorable and so universal, it is now much disused in Europe, and in 
Britain is nearly extinct. Yet I cannot but consider it as a much more 
noble and princely amusement than horse-racing and cock-fighting, 
cultivated in certain states with so much care ; or even than pugilism, 
which is still so highly patronized in some of those enlightened countries. 
Species IV. FALCO LEUCOCEPHALUS. 
WHITE-HEADED, or BALD EAGLE.* 
[Plate XXXVI. Female.] 
Linn, tiijst. 124. — Lath, i., 20. — Le iJi/gargnc dtete hlanche, Buff, i., 99, pi. enl, 
411.— .-Ire^. Zool. 196, No. 89.— Bald Eagle, Catesb. i., l.f 
This distino-uished bird, as he is the most beautiful of his tribe in 
this part of the world, and the adopted emblem of our country, is enti- 
tled to particular notice. He is represented, in the plate, of one-third 
his natural size, and was drawn from one of the largest and most perfect 
specimens I have yet met with. In the back ground is seen a distant 
view of the celebrated cataract of Niagara, a noted place of resort for 
these birds, as well on account of the fish procured there, as for the 
* The epithet bald, applied to this species, whose head is thickly covered with 
feathers, is equally improper and absurd with the titles Goatsucker, Kingfisher, &c., 
bestowed on others ; and seems to have been occasioned by the white appearance 
of the head, when contrasted with the dark color of the rest of the plumage. The 
appellation, however, being now almost universal, is retained in the following pages. 
t We add the following synonymes. — Falco Leucoceplialus, Gmel. Sysl. i., p. 255. — 
Lath. Ind. Orn. p. 11. — Aigle d tUe blanche, Temm. Man. d' Orn. p. 52. — L'Aigle 
pi/gargue, Vieillot, Ois. de. I'Am. Sept. I., j). 27, pi. 3. 
