328 
The Bald Eagle 
Poorly 
Named 
season goes on, there is added to this an accumulation of bones from the 
fishes, birds, and other animals brought to feed the young. Thus year by 
year the structure grows, until sometimes it becomes immense. I recall | 
seeing one in eastern North Carolina that must have been over seven feet ' 
in thickness from top to bottom. 
Many birds receive names of a more or less descriptive character, as 
Red-headed Woodpecker, Crossbill, and so forth. It is erroneous, how- 
ever, to regard the Bald Eagle as a bald-headed bird, 
for its crown is well covered. When three years old, 
it passes through a molting-period, which results in 
the bird’s acquiring a white head, neck, and tail. Many Bald Eagles are 
observed every year that do not possess these white feathers ; such birds, 
of course, are still in their youthful plumage. At a little distance it is 
often difficult to distinguish the young of this species from a Golden 
Eagle ; the latter is rare, however, in the eastern United States. 
In writing of this bird, the great Audubon expresses regret that it 
should have been selected as the national emblem, and refers to the opinion 
of Benjamin Franklin, who wrote: ‘'For my part, I wish the Bald Eagle 
had not been chosen as the representative of our country. He is a bird 
of bad moral character, and does not make his living honestly.” After 
speaking of the eagle’s habit of constantly robbing the Osprey, Franklin 
continues: “With all this injustice, he is never a good 
case, but, like those among men who live by sharping 
and robbing, he is generally poor. Besides, he is a 
rank coward, the little Kingbird, not bigger than a sparrow, attacks him 
boldly, and drives him from the district.” 
Despite this unlovable part of the Bald Eagle’s character, the fact 
remains that it is one of the most interesting of our wild birds, and it 
would indeed be a calamity if its race should be exterminated. In regions 
where the birds become a source of serious loss to the sheep-raisers, we 
cannot well blame men for occasionally killing these raiders of the sheep- 
fold, but wanton shooting of this fine bird should be strenuously dis- 
couraged. 
Franklin’s 
Opinion 
Classification and Distribution 
The Bald Eagle belongs to the Order Raptor es, and to the Family ButeonidcF. 
Its scientific name is Halicretus leucocephalus. It is resident throughout North 
America from Mexico to the northern lirnit of tree-growth; but those in the 
extreme north are separated as the subspecies H. 1. alascanus. 
This and other Educational Leaflets are for sale, at 5 cents each, by the National Association of 
Audubon Societies. 1974 Broadway, New York City. Lists given on request. 
