FALCONID^^ — BUTEONIN^: EAGLES. 
555 
tarsus varies in this species ; there is normally a short row of scales in front, discontinued 
about the bases of the toes, where are granular reticulations, the scutellation being resumed 
further on the toes. Wings pointed by 3d-5th quills ; 2d nearly equal to 6th : 1st longei- 
than 9th ; 5 to 6 emarginate on inner webs. Tail rounded, graduated or cuneate, of 12 rec- 
trices (14 in the Asiatic H. pelagicus). Feathers of neck all around lance-acute, discrete. 
About 8 species of this genus are recognized; one of them is appropriate to this continent; 
another occurs in Greenland ; a third {H. pelagicus) may be expected in Alaska. 
Analysis of Species. 
Adult with head and tail white leucocephalus 534 
Adult with tail only white albicilla 53i; 
533. H. albicil'la. (Lat. albicilla, white-tailed.) White-tailed Sea Eagle. Adult $ 9: 
Dark brown, blackening on primaries, the liead and neck gray, the tail white. Bill and feet 
Fig. 384. — Bald Eagle. (From Tenney, after Wilson. ) 
yellow. Young with tail not white, and otherwise different. Eather larger than the nexl 
species. Europe, etc., only North American as occurring in Greenland. 
534. H. leucoceph'alus. (Gr. Xeu/coy, Zewcos, white ; Ke^aX^, A;ep7ia7e, head. Fig. 384.) White- 
headed Sea Eagle. ''Bald Eagle.'' Bird of Washington" (the young). Adult: 
$ 9 • Dark brown ; quills black ; head and tail white ; bill, eyes, and feet yellow. Length 
about 3 feet ; extent 6 or 7 feet ; wing 2 feet ( 9 ) (>i' less {$); tail a foot, more ( 9 ) or less { $). 
Three years are required for the perfection of the white head and tail of the ''bald'' eagle. 
The first year, the young are ''black" eagles; very dark colored, with fleecy white bases 
of the feathers showing here and there ; bill black ; iris brown ; feet yellow. The next 
year, they are "gray" eagles, and usually larger than the old birds, the largest known 
specimens being of this kind. Young in the down are sooty-gray. N. Am. anywhere, 
common — for an eagle ; piscivorous ; a piratical parasite of the osprey : otherwise notorious 
as the emblem of the republic. Nest on trees or cliffs ; eggs ordinarily 2, white, unmarked, 
about 3.00X2.50. 
