134 
BIRDS OP PREY. 
Bald Eagle, that in the ancient continent they seldom 
wander beyond the arctic circle, being found no farther to 
the south than Sweden and Norway ; while in America, 
they dwell and breed, at least, in all the intermediate re- 
gion from Hudson’s Bay to Florida, being considerably 
more numerous even than other species throughout the 
swamps and dark forests of the southern states. Their 
food is principally rabbits, squirrels, grous, quails, rats, 
mice, and frogs. From necessity, as well as choice, 
they not unfrequently appear around the farm r house and 
garden in quest of the poultry, particularly young 
chickens. At these times they prowl abroad towards 
evening, and fly low and steadily about, as if beating for 
their prey. In Alabama, Georgia, West Florida, and 
Louisiana, where they abound, they are often to be seen 
abroad by day, particularly in cloudy weather, and, at 
times, even soar and fly with all the address of diurnal 
birds of prey. Their loud guttural call of ’ Ieoh ’Ieoh ’ ho 
’ kd ho , or ’ whah ’ whah ’ whah 1 whah- a a ,may be heard occa- 
sionally both by day and night, and, as a note of recogni- 
tion, is readily answered when mimicked, so as to decoy 
the original towards the sound. One which I received, 
in the month of December (1830), was hovering over a 
covey of quails, in the day-time ; and though the sports- 
man had the same aim, the owl also joined the chase, 
and was alone deterred from his sinister purpose by re- 
ceiving the contents of the gun intended only for the 
more favorite game. Audubon says, that they usually 
nestle in hollow trees, without adding any lining even 
to the cavity; though they sometimes also take pos- 
session of the old nests of the Grow or Red-tailed Hawk. 
The eggs, globular and white, are from 4 to 6. When the 
young leave the nest, they still keep together for mutual 
warmth and safety, in the high, shaded branches of the 
