WHITE-HEADED OR BALD EAGLE. 
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color ; the head and upper part of the neck, as well as the tail and 
its coverts, are of a pure white, (but in the female incline a little 
to straw-color). The bill, cere, and feet yellow, with the sole of the 
feet rough and warty, suited for holding slippery objects. The iris 
whitish-yellow. Th e female about 3 feet long, with the stretch of 
the wings about 7 feet. The male 2 or 3 inches shorter. — In the 
first year , the white of the head and neck is blended with greyish- 
brown. These parts are variegated with the two colors in the 
seeond year. 
The young of the first year are distinguished with difficulty from 
the young of the White-tailed Eagle ; their plumage is however less 
regularly varied with brown colors, and the tail is always somewhat 
longer . 
Subgenus. — Pandion. 
Bill rounded above, and with the cere hispid ; nostrils obliquely 
curved ; membranaceous on the upper edge. Tarsi naked, reticu- 
lated, rough ; toes divided to the base, the outer versatile ; nails 
equal and rounded beneath. Wings long ; 1st primary equal with 
the 3d ; the 2d longest. 
Of a cowardly disposition, and living on fish, they inhabit near 
waters, retiring from them, when frozen, to warmer climates. They 
seize their prey in their talons near the surface of the water, or 
plunge for it as occasion requires ; they very rarely hunt birds. 
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