274 FALCO LEUCOCEPHALUS. 
raven are absurdly supposed to do ; nor are they aware 
of the effects of spring" traps, as I have seen some of 
them caught by these instruments. 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, majr be quite correct. 
They defend themselves in the manner usually followed 
by other eagles and hawks, throwing themselves back- 
wards, and furiously striking with their talons at any 
object within reach, keeping their bill open, and turning 
their head w ith quickness to w^atch the movements of 
the enemy, their eyes being apparently more protruded 
than wdien 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 wdiich, judging by its appearance, 
must have been very old. Its tail and wing feathers 
