Evening star., 1933-05-07
US. EAGLEEMbLEM
IS HELD INCORRECT.
Nature Writer Declares It Is
Wrongly Shown on Seal
and Coins.

The American eagle, symbol OF free-
dom, is inadequately appreciated by the
people. Even on the great seal Of the
United States and on the standard
coins of the country he is incorrectly
depicted.
These are the conclusions Of Arthur
Gibson Morse, local writer OF nature
lore and history, who has made q spe-
cial study of the noble monarch OF the
air.
Our Government" he says. has
chosen the eagle as our national en-
blem, but, unfortunately, the effigy on
the great seal and on our coins Is not
that of the eagle at all, Is we see him
in life. The designs show merely con-
ventional figure that has been permitted
to pass as an eagle, but really is only
figment of the imagination of the origi-
nal artist, an Englishman who was not
sufficiently acquainted with his subject.
The common spread eagle repre-
sentation in the seal and on some coins
is absurd No living eagle ever took
such a position. Only if the bird were
dead and laid on his back could his
legs and wings be forced into the atti-
tudes shown. The bird portrayed as
gathered to the feet must be the So
called golden eagle of Russia. certainly
not the bald eagle Of America.
Wings at Wrong Angle.
Some coins show q presumptive
eagle in flight, but he is not the Ameri-
can bird, for the latter never spreads
the primary feathers Of his wings and
never holds his wings at q 45-degree
angle even when about to settle or when
picking up prey without stopping.
ssTvpo American hAl6 QQp70 iy the
largest bird of flight in North America.
His normal habitat is the United States
and he flourishes particularly in the
Northern States, though occasionally
seen in Florida or along the Rio Grande
and sometimes wandering into Canada.
From Maine to Oregon he is thoroughly
at home. Elsewhere he is only visitor.
When Matched, he is covered with
a fluffy yellow down, which soon dis
mottled with white. Through youth
this garb continues, but when he ma
lures. in two or three years, he acquires
a rich. dark brown Of a character that
glistens in the sun as though polished.
His head and neck become pure white
hence the word bald-which only
adds to his distinguished appearance.
His tail feathers also are spotleSs white.
a fact which makes him easy to clas-
sify when seen in flight, though other
large birds may be aloft at the same
time. His legs are feathered to the
Joint, below which they are bare half
way to the talons. His feet are strong,
with long toes and sharp, heavy claws.
His strong, curved beak is q notable
feature.
THE eagles height Is about % to 80
inches, and his weight when mature
about 20 to 80 pounds. He attains great
age, barring accident, and may reach
90 years.
standing on tree or crag he is q
beautiful figure, a living ensemble or
dignity, resourcefulness, reserve power
and independence, fitting symbol of
the United States. But alas. none OF
these qualities appear in the carica-
lures of the bird seen on the great
seal and on our coined money"
Urges New Dies.
Mr.. Morse believes that new and
more scientifically accurate designs
should be made. New dies" he says,
ARE required from time to time. re-
gardless OF design. The fault could be
extra cost. The eagle Is entitled to
a new deal He has been libeled long
enough
In a discussion of the eagle, shown
on the George Washington Bicentennial
quarter last year. R. Bruce Horsfall OF
the American Nature Association, ar
gued that the bird there depicted was
a true enough bald eagle 1.-The bald
eagle he said, "is entitled to feathers
on its legs, so long as they are bare
below the knees. When 1t begins get
ting feathers below its knees, however,
1t loses cast as . bald eagle and Is
no better than a plain golden eagle"
The knees of the Bicentennial eagle
were bare to the extreme of nakedness,
and Mr.. Morse has no quarrel with its
designer. It is the eagle Of other coins
that he deplores.