202 
or bootless. Probably if the mother is at hand, the bold raider is usually 
beaten off, but its assault is so sudden and unexpected that often the 
bleating prey is seized before maternal assistance can prevent. The charge 
has been made, and with considerable evidence in support, that this bird 
and the mountain lion are the two serious enemies of these alpine animals. 
How serious the depredations are remains to be demonstrated, but away 
from the immediate neighbourhood of high mountains little objection 
can be taken to the species. Even in the mountains, the damage it 
does can be easily overestimated, as marmots, rabbits, and gophers are 
undoubtedly its staple food, the other supplies being probably the result 
of hoped-for opportunity rather than habitual seeking. On the prairie 
sloughs it pursues Ducks to some extent, but is a most persistent hunter of 
jack rabbits. Stories of children having been carried off, or other similar 
popular tales, are to be largely discounted. Such things may possibly have 
occurred, but are too extraordinary and the accounts too poorly substanti- 
ated to be regarded without suspicion. On the whole, except where special 
interests and conditions prevail, the Golden Eagle is a harmless and pict- 
uresque feature of the landscape. 
352. Bald Eagle (Including Northern Bald Eagle). American eagle. Haliaeetus 
leucocephalus. L, 33. Adult: a large, dark brown (nearly black) Eagle with white head 
and tau. Juvenile : all dark brown. Tarsus bare, bright yellow, for half its length (Figure 225). 
Distinctions. The adult Bald Eagle, with its conspicuous white head, neck, and tail, 
is too distinctive to be mistaken. The juvenile is so like the Golden that it has often been 
confused with it. It never has the golden 
ochraceous hindneck. The tail lightens towards 
the base with age, but always gradually, and 
never Bhows a definite tail bar as does the young 
Golden Eagle. The final distinction is the 
feathering of the tarsus which is bare for half 
its length instead of being feathered to the base 
of the toe (Compare with Figure 222). 
Field Mark s. The adult with white head 
Figure 225 and tail is unmistakable (Figure 226). The 
Bare tarsus of Bald Eagle; scale, 1. juvenile is very similar to the Golden Eagle. 
It does not show a white spot at base of the 
primaries on the spread wing, but the under surface is largely greyish towards the 
body. The tail may lighten from the tip towards the base, but gradually, and never so 
as to show a definite terminal bar (Figure 227, compare with Figures 223, 224), 
Nesting. Usually in large nests of sticks in tops of tall, isolated trees. 
Distribution. North America, from northern tree limit south to Mexico. In Canada, 
across the continent, more common on the seacoasts than elsewhere. 
SUBSPECIES. The Canadian bird is the Northern Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leuco- 
cephalus alascanus , separable from the southern subspecies by slightly larger size. 
Throughout Canada except on the seacoast, the Bald Eagle is nothing 
more than a rare, interesting, and picturesque feature of the landscape. 
It is greatly to be regretted that it is usually a target for every gun when 
it comes within range. 
Economic Status. Of 15 stomachs examined, 1 contained game; 
5, mammals; 9, fish; and 2, carrion. In examining these data it is observ- 
able that the 6 stomachs containing mammals and game are winter speci- 
mens and, except one, were taken at a distance from water. Had the 
natural breeding and summer grounds of the Bald Eagle been the source 
of the specimens here studied, the mammals and game would probably 
have been replaced by fish, for this forms the great bulk of its food. The 
food is taken in various ways. The bird can dive for fish in true Osprey 
