WHITE-HEADED EAGLE. 435 
should he accidentally meet with one of these who has his craw crammed with carrion, 
he attacks it fiercely in the air; the cowardly Vulture instantly disgorges, and the deli- 
cious contents are snatched up by the Hagle before they reach the ground.” 
From Dr. Brewer’s description I take following paragraph respecting 
the habits of this Bird: | 
“The White-headed Eagle appeared to be equally adapted by nature for the endur- 
ance of heat or cold, and is apparently indifferent to either. Its residence is influenced 
only by its abundance of food, especially that of fish; and it seems to matter very little 
whether that plenty is procurable within the Arctic Circle or on the coast and rivers of 
Florida and Texas. In places like the Falls of Niagara, where the stream is ever liable 
to contribute the remains of animals destroyed by the descent of the torrent, this Eazle 
is especially abundant. Unscrupulous, greedy, voracious, not select in its choice of food, 
and capable of providing for itself when necessity compels, we find this not altogether 
unsuitable emblem of our country, now enacting the tyrant and robber and plundering 
the Fish Hawk of the fruits of its industry, now sharing with the Raven and Vulture 
the dead Salmon of the Columbia, and in other places diving for and catching its own 
fish. The impetuosity with which it pursues, overtakes, and robs the Fish Hawk, bear- 
ing off a fish it has just taken, must be witnessed to be appreciated ; and the swiftness 
with which the Eagle can dart down upon and seize the booty, which the Hawk has 
been compelled to let fall, before it reaches the water, is not the least wonderful feature 
of this striking performance. On the banks of the Columbia where [when] there are no ~ 
Fish Hawks to depend upon, the bird finds an easy subsistence on the vast numbers of 
dead salmon which abound; and in Florida, Mr. Allen has cbserved it dive and catch its 
own fish. This is also confirmed by statements of other naturalists, Wilson also accuses 
this Eagle of destroying great numbers of young pigs in the Southern States, young 
lambs and even sickly sheep; and in one instance it attempted to carry off a child, 
which was only saved by its dress giving way.” 
Of the breeding habits of the White-headed Eagle in this State, Dr. 
Kirtland (Fam. Visitor, l. c.), gives the following account : 
‘For many years a pair of Eagles resorted to a nest in a stately oak tree standing on 
the high precipice near the shore of the Lake in Rockport, five miles west of this city. 
Nothing occurred to interrupt them until five years ago—during a severe storm their 
favorite tree was prostrated to the ground in the month of November or December. 
Harly in the ensuing spring they were observed constructing a new nest in the top 
of another very large and lofty oak, in the same vicinity, in which to rear their young 
that season. The following spring the female was shot by a hunter. The male im- 
mediately disappeared, and was not again seen here until the next winter, when he 
appeared accompanied by a hew mate. The pair took possession of the deserted nest, 
made extensive repairs, and prepared to raise their brood. Since then we have watched 
their habits with great interest. * * * During summer they may be seen daily 
perched upon some high tree hanging over the precipitous shores of the lake. From 
that altitude they can readily discover any dead fish floating upon the surface of the 
water fora great distance. From this source they obtain their food so long as the lake 
remains free from ice, but when this freezes over, and the weather becomes severely 
cold, they forage the country in search of dead carcases about the farm.” 
