60 
WHITE-HEADED OR BALD EAGLE. 
ments. Their sight, although probably as perfect as that of any bird, is 
much affected during a fall of snow, at which time they may be approached 
without difficulty. 
The White-headed Eagle seldom appears in very mountainous districts, 
but prefers the low lands of the sea-shores, those of our large lakes, and the 
borders of rivers. It is a constant resident in the United States, in every 
part of which it is to be seen. The roosts and breeding-places of pigeons 
are resorted to by it, for the purpose of picking up the young birds that 
happen to fall, or the old ones when wounded. It seldom, however, follows 
the flocks of these birds when on their migrations. 
When shot at and wounded, it tries to escape by long and quickly repeated 
leaps, and, if not closely pursued, soon conceals itself. Should it happen to 
fall on the water, it strikes powerfully with expanded wings, and in this 
manner often reaches the shore, when it is not more than twenty or thirty 
yards distant. It is capable of supporting life without food for a long period . 
I have heard of some, which, in a state of confinement, had lived without 
much apparent distress for twenty days, although I cannot vouch for the 
truth of such statements, which, however, may be quite correct. They 
defend themselves in the manner usually followed by other Eagles and 
Hawks, throwing themselves backwards, and furiously striking with their 
talons at any object within reach, keeping their bill open, and turning their 
head with quickness to watch the movements of the enemy, their eyes being 
apparently more protruded than when unmolested. 
It is supposed that Eagles live to a very great age, — some persons have 
ventured to say even a hundred years. On this subject, I can only observe, 
that I once found one of these birds, which, on being killed, proved to be a 
female, and which, judging by its appearance, must have been very old. Its 
tail and wing-feathers were so worn out, and of such a rusty colour, that I 
imagined the bird had lost the power of moulting. The legs and feet were 
covered with large warts, the claws and bill were much blunted ; it could 
scarcely fly more than a hundred yards at a time, and this it did with a 
heaviness and unsteadiness of motion such as I never witnessed in any other 
bird of the species. The body was poor and very tough. The eye was the 
only part which appeared to have sustained no injury. It remained sparkling 
and full of animation, and even after death seemed to have lost little of its 
lustre. No wounds were perceivable on its body. 
The White-headed Eagle is seldom seen alone, the mutual attachment 
which two individuals form when they first pair seeming to continue until 
one of them dies or is destroyed. They hunt for the support of each other, 
and seldom feed apart, but usually drive off other birds of the same species. 
They commence their amatory intercourse at an earlier period than any other 
