The National tribune., 1906-12-13
THE KING OF BIRDS.
The Great BaldIleaded Eagle.
(From a Bulletin of the Agricultural
Department)

eagle anu lHe ~ D.
eral distribution, and thus of particu-
lar economic interest in this region,
while the harpy eagle reaches our ter
ritory, if at all, as merely casual
visitor to Texas, and may properly be
left out of the present consideration.
Eagles are popularly supposed to be |
quite different from hawks, but. in a
word, they are nothing more than large
hawks Few birds exceed or even equal
them in duration of life, for they reach
sometimes the age of nearly 100 years.
They are not usually sociable, but live
sngly or in pairs and dwell in the
wilder places in all kinds of country, |
from tropical deserts to the Arctic re-
gions. In their search for food. how |
ever, they often wander far, and en- |
boldenec by hunger even approach the
abodes of man. In story books dni
newspapers eagles have many times
been accused of carrying off young |
children, but most if not ali such tales
are wholly unreliable.
Eagles are flesh eaters, and since
they consume large quantities of what |
ever animal food is most accessible |
they become at times an economic fac
tor of some Importance, though wheth- |
er beneficial or injurious in a given
region is not always easy to say. In
places overrun by the smaller noXious
mammals they frequently perform
valuable service by thinning the ranks
of such pests, and the fondneSs of some
species for carrion is an added source
of benefit to man. But if, perchance.
they do render us some good deeds,
they offset these by wholesale destruc-
tion of waterfowl and game birds and
by raids upon the sheepfold, the goat
pasture, the cattle pen and the poultry
yard. Thus just verdict must pro-
nounce them not far from neutral in
economic influence. Where and when
they are doing good they ought to be
carefully protected: if at any time or
place they becom harmful, means
should be taken TO obviate the damage
they cause; but it would be unneces-
sary and unwise to declare against all
eagles a general war of determination,
since neutral species always bear an
important part in the balance of ma
ture. ar equilibrium that man should
hesitate to disturb.
Bald EnEIe.
The bald eagle, otherwise variously
called white-headed eagle, whitehead
ed sea eagle, and bird of Washington,
is of particular interest to Americans
as the National emblem of the United
States, t. which dignity it was elevated
on June 20, 1882. The name bald"
eagle, by which the species is almost
universally known, originated from the
white head and the erroneous impress
sion of badness it gives at distance. |
This bird measures about three or
three and a half feet in length, from
six to eight feet in extent Of wings, and
weighs from six to II pounds. When
fully adult its color is dark brown, with |
white head, neck and tail, yellow bill, |
eyes and feet. At least three or four
years are required for the assumption
of this plumage, younger birds being
entirely brownish or blackish.
The bald eagle inhabits nearly the
whole Of North America, from northern
Mexico and Florida north to Ungava
and the Anderson River, west to the
mainland of Alaska, the Aleutian Is
lands, and the Commander Islands,
Kamchatka.
General Habits.
Over much of its range, particularly
in the more thickly-settled parts of the
United States, the-b bald eagle is by no
means common during the breeding
season: but in sections of Florida, on
the Aleutian Islands, the coast Of
southern Alaska, British Columbia and
Washington it seems to be more nu-
merous than anywhere else. From the
more northern regions, particularly the
interior of Alaska and of northern Cam
ada, il withdraws for the Winter when
the lakes and rivers freeze; but else
where IL seems to have no regular or
well-defined migration, although dur
ing the cold season 1t wanders more or
less, apparently influenced largely by
the food supply, since 1t is easily able
to with stand the rigor of even an
arctic climate. 1t is more maritime
and iuvicolne than the golden eagle,
preferring the neighborhood of the
seacoast. lakes and larger streams, and
n seldom really a dis
tance from them. 1t inhabits. how
ever, all kinds of country so long as
the main requisite-plenty of water
is there, and in mountains or on plans,
in heavy forests or along barren, shores
1t finds a congenial abode.
Under most circumstances wary and
difficult of approach, with an eye open
for danger and giving suspected things
a wide berth. this eagle, nevertheless,
where not molested, is often surpris-
ingly tame and unsuspicious. Unpro-
yoked il rarely attacks man, although
such instances have been reported. 1t
prefers trees for watching and roost-
ing, but in Spring sometimes descends
to ride the cakes of ice in the river,
apparently looking for fish. Though
not a gregarious species, II may at
times be seen in companies of as many
as 10 or even Is individuals. 1t is
evidently not lacking in conjugal af-
an alliance, defensive and offensive,
that is believed to last as long as both
survive; but when one of pair dies.
the other. male or female, soon secures
another partner that at once assumes
the responsibilities OF the interrupted
household. The notei Of this eagle are
few, usually produced in a loud, harsh
scream, but heard at a distance they
lose much of their disagreeable sound.
The flight IS powerful, capable of be-
ing Indefinitely sustained. and is ac-
complished now by steady wing-beats,
now by soaring either on level course
or in great ascending circles, as is the
habit of most large birds of prey. The
bird occasionally makes a plunge from
a great hight--a marvellous feat, per-
formed with such velocity that the eye
can scarcely follow the descent. In
strength the bald eagle is hardly less
remarkable than in power of flight, and
II has been known to carry for five
miles a lamb of weight fully equal to
its own. 1t can readily be kept in
confinement, for II will thrive on any
kind of meat or fish, and ii sometimes
even develops no little attachment for
its owner.
Breeding.
This species breeds throughout its
range wherever suitable places exist,
and 1t has been known to lay and hatch
eggs in confinement. In the southern
part of the United States, from Florida
70 TeYas n hreedS very early denosif-