THE WHITE-HEADED EAGLE. 277 
most, or sleep on the branches immediately near it, for 
Sev «ral weeks after. They are fed most abundantly 
|fhil e un{ ier the care of the parents, which procure for 
‘'em ample supplies of fish, either accidentally cast 
**hore, or taken from the fish-hawk, together with 
* al) bits, squirrels, young lambs, pigs, opossums, or 
ta ceoons. Every thing that comes in the way is 
disked by the young family, as by the old birds. 
“ The young birds begin to breed the following spring, 
*0t always in pairs of the same age, as I have several 
Ses observed one of these birds in brown plumage 
,r| at ( .(l with a full coloured bird, which had the head 
tail pure white. I once shot a pair of this kind, 
' v b<m the brown bird (the young one) proved to be the 
* e male. 
“ This species requires at least four years before it 
Stains the full beauty of its plumage when kept in 
^Ofinement. I have known two instances in which 
me White of the head did not make its appearance 
!‘"til the sixth spring. It is impossible for me to say 
'o\v much sooner this state of perfection is attained, 
''ben the bird is at full liberty, although I should sup- 
? 0s e it to be at least one year, as the bird is capable of 
Ceding the first spring after birth. 
‘‘The weight of eagles of this species varies consider- 
ably. In the males, it is from six to eight pounds, and 
the females, from eight to twelve. These birds are 
attached to particular districts, where they have 
made their nest, that they seldom spend a night 
^ any distance from the latter, and often resort to its 
.^mediate neighbourhood. Whilst asleep, they emit a 
,° u d hissing sort of snore, which is heard at the dis- 
* n ce of a hundred yards, when the weather is perfectly 
Yet, so light is their sleep, that the cracking 
^ a stick under the foot of a person immediately 
*' v akens them. When it is attempted to smoke them 
^Ue thus roosted and asleep, they start up and sail off 
J^thout utterino- any sound, but return next evening' 
me same spot 
