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differed from the rest of its genus. Mr Wilson had confounded it with the bald or white headed eagle, one of the young of which he has given the figure of, to represent it. But I am strongly inclined to believe, that he never saw this bird; for it must be acknowledged that he was a very close and accurate observer, and, had he met with it, could hardly have fallen into so great an error, unless he was deceived by the near resemblance which the young of these two species bear to each other in plumage, although their difference in size is very great; but, in the old birds, the likeness ceases to exist; both in habits and appearance they are totally dissimilar.

"The sea eagle of America is full one fourth larger in size, than any female specimen of the other kind I ever met with, old or young. In the United States, from Massachusetts to Louisiana on the seaboard, or as high as the mouth of the Missouri to the north-west, (I speak only of the extent of country I have visited, and where I have seen them,) these birds are very rare. This will appear to all, when I say that during my many long peregrinations, more than eight or nine I never found, and only one nest. The sea eagle of European naturalists, of which Mr Bewick has given a description, and also a figure, in a small wood cut, is more like the species in question, as to form and plumage, than any other. In mentioning this gentleman, I cannot forbear expressing the high estimation in which I hold his splendid productions; I have no hesitation in pronouncing him a most elegant and faithful copier of nature, and the very best illustrator of English ornithology. Mr Wilson's figure is not so well done; it seems to be taken from a stuffed specimen..

"My next meeting with this bird was a few years afterwards, whilst engaged in collecting cray-fish, in one of those flats which border and divide Green River, in Kentucky, near its junction with the Ohio, from the range of high cliffs which, for some distance, follow the meanders of the stream. I observed on the rocks, which, at that place, are nearly perpendicular, a quantity of white ordure. - Thinking that owls resorted thither, I mentioned it to my companions, when one of them, who lived within a mile and a half of the place, told me that it was from the nest of the brown eagle; meaning the young of the white-headed eagle, with which he was acquainted. I assured him this could not be; and remarked that the old, as well as young, of that species never built in such places, but always in trees. Although he could not answer my objection, he stoutly maintained that a brown eagle of some kind, above the usual size, had built there; he added that he had discovered the nest some days before, and had seen one of the old birds dive and catch a fish. This he thought strange, having, till then, always observed that brown and bald eagles procured this kind of food by robbing the fishhawks; but if I felt particularly anxious to know what nest it was, I might soon satisfy myself, as the old birds would come and feed their young with fish; he had seen them do so before. In high expectation, I seated myself

about a hundred yards from the foot of the rock. Never did time pass more slowly; I could not help betraying the most impatient curiosity, for my hopes whispered it was a sea eagle's nest. Two long hours had elapsed before the old bird made his appearance, which was announced to us by the loud hissings of the two young ones, who crawled to the extremity of the hole to receive a fine fish. I had a perfect view of this noble bird as he held himself to the edging rock, his tail spread, and his wings partly so, and hanging something like the barn, bank, or social swallow. I trembled lest a word should escape from my companions; the slightest murmur had been treason from them; they entered into my feelings, and, although little interested, gazed with me. In a few minutes the other parent joined her mate, which, from the difference in size (the female being much larger,) we knew to be the mother bird. She, also, had brought a fish; but, more cautious than her mate, ere she alighted, she glanced her quick and piercing eye around, and instantly perceived her procreant bed had been discovered; she dropped her prey, with a loud shriek communicated the alarm to the mate, and, hovering with him over our heads, kept up a growling, threatening cry, to intimidate us from our suspected design. This watchful solicitude I have ever found peculiar to the female.

"The young having hid themselves, we went and picked up the fish which the mother had let fall; it was a white perch, weighing about five and a half pounds; the upper part of the head was broken in, and the back torn by the talons of the eagle. We had plainly seen her bearing it in the manner of the fish-hawk.

"This day's sport being at an end, as we journeyed homewards we agreed to return the next morning, being most anxious to procure both the old and young birds; but rainy and tempestuous weather setting in, our expedition was obliged to be postponed till the third day following, when, with guns and men all in readiness, we reached the rock. Some posted themselves at the foot, others upon it, but in vain. We passed the entire day, without either seeing or hearing an eagle; the sagacious birds, no doubt, having anticipated an invasion, had removed their young to fresh quarters.

"I come at last to the day I had so often and so ardently desired. Two years had gone by since the discovery of the nest, in fruitless excursions; but my wishes were no longer to remain ungratified. In returning from the little village of Henderson, to the house of Dr R *****, about a mile distant, I saw one rise from a small inclosure not a hundred yards before me, where the doctor had a few days before slaughtered some hogs, and alight upon a low tree branching over the road. I prepared my doublebarrelled piece, which I constantly carry, and went slowly and cautiously towards him; quite fearless he awaited my approach, looking upon me with an undaunted eye. I fired, and he fell; before I reached him he was dead. With what delight I surveyed this magnificent bird! Had the finest salmon ever pleased him as he did me? - Never. I ran and presented him to my

friend, with a pride which those only can feel, who, like me, have devoted their earliest childhood to such pursuits, and have derived from them their first of pleasures; to others, I must seem to prattle out of fashion.' The doctor, who was an experienced hunter, examined the bird with much satisfaction, and frankly acknowledged he had never before seen or heard of it. The name I chose for this new species of eagle, 'The Bird of Washington,' may, by some, be considered as preposterous and unfit; but, being indisputably the noblest of the genus known to naturalists, I trust it will be allowed to retain it. To those, however, who may be curious to know my reasons, I can only say, that, as the new world gave me birth and liberty, the great man who insured its independence is next to my heart; he had such true nobility of mind, and honest generous feeling, as is seldom possessed; he was brave, so was the eagle; and his name, extending from pole to pole, resembles the majestic soarings of the mightiest of the feathered

tribe.

"During the month of January following, I saw a pair of sea eagles flying over the Falls of the Ohio, one in chase of the other. The next day I saw them again; the female had relaxed in her severity, had laid aside her coyness, and to a favored tree they continually resorted. I pursued them unsuccessfully for several days, when they forsook the place.

The flight of this bird is very different from that of the white-headed eagle, encircling more diameter than the latter; whilst sailing, keeping nearer to the land and the surface of the water; and when about to dive for fish, falling in a circuitous spiral manner, as if with an intention of checking all retreating movement which its prey might attempt, and only when within a few yards darting upon it. The fish-hawk often does the same. When rising with a fish they fly to a considerable distance, forming, in their line of course and that of the water, a very acute angle, sometimes not exceeding thirty degrees, when several hundred yards distant from the spot emerged from. My last opportunity of seeing the sea eagle, was on the 15th of November, 1821, a few miles above the mouth of the Ohio; two passed over our boat, moving down in easy flappings. In a letter from a kind relation. Mr ***, dated 'Falls of the Ohio, July, 1819,' containing particulars relative to the swallow-tailed hawk (Falco furcátus,) he also says, 'Yesterday, for the first time, I had an opportunity of viewing one of those magnificent birds, which you call the sea eagle, as it passed low over me, whilst fishing; I shall be really glad when I can again have the pleasure of seeing your drawing of it.' The glands containing the oil, used for the purpose of lubricating the surface of the plumage, were, in the specimen here represented, extremely large; the contents had the appearance of hog's fat which had been melted and become rancid. This bird makes more copious use of that substance than the white-headed eagle, or any of the Falco genus, except the fish-hawk; the whole plumage looking, upon close examination, as if it had received a general coating of a thin clear dilution of

gum arabic, and presenting less of the downy gloss exhibited on the upper part of the bald-headed eagle's plumage. The male bird weighs fourteen and a nalf pounds avoirdupois, measures three feet seven inches in length, and ten feet two inches in extent.

"From the above account it will be seen that the bird here described, and faithfully figured from a fresh killed specimen, is a very scarce species, even in those parts where it is a native; and that it is rarely met with, the few opportunities I have had of seeing it, the dates of which I have generally given, are a sufficient proof."

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THIS distinguished bird has been long known to naturalists, being common to both continents, and occasionally met with from a very high northern latitude, to the borders of the torrid zone, but chiefly in the vicinity of the sea, and along the shores and cliffs of our lakes, and large rivers. Formed by nature for braving the severest cold; feeding equally upon the produce of the sea and of the land; possessing powers of flight capable of outstripping even the tempests themselves; unawed by any thing but man; and from the ethereal heights to which he soars, looking abroad, at one glance, on an immeasurable expanse of forests, fields, lakes, and ocean deep below him, he appears indifferent to the little localities of change of seasons; as in a few minutes he can pass from summer to winter, from the lower to the higher regions of the atmosphere, the abode of eternal cold; and thence

1 Falco leucocephalus, LIN.

descend at will to the torrid or the arctic regions of the earth. He is therefore found at all seasons in the countries he inhabits, but prefers such places as have been mentioned above, from the great partiality he has for fisn.

In procuring these he displays, in a very singular manner, the genius and energy of his character, which is fierce, contemplative, daring, and tyrannical; attributes not exerted but on particular occasions; but when put forth, overpowering all opposition. Elevated on the high dead limb of some gigantic tree, that commands a wide view of the neighboring shore and ocean, he seems calmly to contemplate the motions of the various feathered tribes that pursue their busy avocations below; the snow white gulls slowly winnowing the air; the busy tringæ coursing along the sands; trains of ducks streaming over the surface; silent and watchful cranes intent and wading; clamorous crows, and all the winged multitudes that subsist by the bounty of this vast liquid magazine of nature. High over all these hovers one, whose action instantly arrests all his attention. By his wide curvature of wing, and sudden suspension in air, he knows him to be the fish-hawk, settling over some devoted victim of the deep. His eye kindles at the sight, and balancing himself with half opened wings, on the branch, he watches the result. Down, rapid as an arrow from heaven, descends the distant object of his attention, the roar of its wings reaching the ear as it disappears in the deep, making the surges foam around! At this moment the eager looks of the eagle are all ardor, and levelling his neck for flight, he sees the fish-hawk once more emerge, struggling with his prey, and mounting in the air, with screams of exultation. These are the signals for our hero, who, launching into the air, instantly gives chase, soon gains on the fish-hawk, each exerts himself to the utmost to mount above the other, displaying in these rencontres the most elegant and sublime evolutions. The unencumbered eagle rapidly advances, and is just on the point of reaching his opponent, when, with a sudden scream, probably of despair and honest execration, the latter drops his fish; the eagle, poising himself for a moment, as if to take a more certain aim, descends like a whirlwind, snatches it in his grasp ere it reaches the water, and bears his ill-gotten booty silently away to the woods.

The predatory attacks and defensive manœuvres of the eagle and the fishhawk, are matters of daily observation along the whole of our seaboard, from Georgia to New England, and frequently excite great interest in the spectators. Sympathy, however, on this as on most other occasions, generally sides with the honest and laborious sufferer, in opposition to the attacks of power, injustice, and rapacity; qualities for which our hero is so generally notorious, and which, in his superior man, are certainly detestable. As for the feelings of the poor fish, they seem altogether out of the question.

When driven, as he sometimes is, by the combined courage and perseverance of the fish-hawks, from their neighborhood, and forced to hunt for

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