WHITE-HEADED EAGLE. 
53 
Sometimes he glides along in a direct horizontal line, at a vast 
height, with expanded and unmoving wings, till he gradually 
disappears in the distant blue ether. Seen gliding in easy cir- 
cles over the high shores, and mountainous cliffs, that tower 
above the Hudson and Susquehanna, he attracts the eye of the 
intelligent voyager, and adds great interest to the scenery. At 
the great cataract of Niagara, already mentioned, there rises 
from the gulf, into which the fall of the Horse-shoe descends, 
a stupendous column of smoke, or spray, reaching to the hea- 
vens, and moving off in large black clouds, according to the di- 
rection of the wind, forming a very striking and majestic ap- 
pearance. The Eagles are here seen sailing about, sometimes 
losing themselves in this thick column, and again re-appearing 
in another place, with such ease and elegance of motion, as ren- 
ders the whole truly sublime. 
High o’er the watery uproar, silent seen. 
Sailing sedate, in majesty serene, 
Now midst the pillar’d spray sublimely lost. 
And now, emerging, down the rapids tost, 
Glides the Bald Eagle, gazing, calm and slow. 
O’er all the horrors of the scene below; 
Intent alone to sate himself with blood. 
From the torn victims of the raging flood. 
The White-headed Eagle is three feet long, and seven feet 
in extent; the bill is of a rich yellow; cere the same, slightly 
tinged with green; mouth flesh coloured, tip of the tongue blu- 
ish black; the head, chief part of the neck, vent, tail-coverts 
and tail, are white in the perfect or old birds of both sexes, in 
those under three years of age these parts are of a gray brown; 
the rest of the plumage is deep dark brown, each feather tipt 
with pale brown, lightest on the shoulder of the wing, and 
darkest towards its extremities; the conformation of the wing 
is admirably adapted for the support of so large a bird; it mea- 
sures two feet in breadth on the greater quills, and sixteen 
inches on the lesser; the longest primaries are twenty inches 
in length, and upwards of one inch in circumference where 
