Benjamin Franklin wrote: "I wish that the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country, he is a bird of bad moral character. He does not get his living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead tree, where too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the labor of a fishing-hawk, and when that diligent bird has at length taken a fish, and is bearing it to its nest for the support of his mate and young ones, the bald eagle pursues him and takes it from him. Besides, he is a rank coward. The little kingbird, not bigger than a sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the district. He is therefore by no means a proper emblem for the brave and honest of America. For a truth, the turkey is in comparison a much more respectable bird and withal a true original native of America... a bird of courage, and would not hesitate to attack a grenadier of the British guards, who should presume to invade his farmyard with a red coat on."
