1898] An Ottawa Naturalists' Journey Westward. 83 



It is of a dark brown colour, with a white head and tail, and the 

 feet, bill, and eyes are yellow. It preys largely upon fishes. Al- 

 though scarcely so handsome a bird as its ally the Golden Eagle 

 {Aqiiila ckrjscetus, Linn.), yet this is the species which has been 

 honoured as the emblem of the United States. An egg of the 

 Bald-headed Eagle, from Long Island, Lake Erie, is in my pos- 

 session.* The nest was built near the top of an elm tree, about 

 70 feet high, and contained two white eggs. 



At the end of July the schooner which had been anchored 

 for some time near Dutch Harbour, made her way into the open 

 waters of Behring Sea. Having left the Entrance to Captain's 

 Bay behind, on one side of which is a promontory rock called 

 the "Priest" ; and on the opposite side a water-fall, pouring itself 

 over the cliff— the first notable thing we observed in the sea was 

 a number of Fin-back Whales {BalcEnoptera velifera, Cope)- 

 These huge Cetaceans were often close to the vessel's side, and 

 shewed their great mouths and blow-holes (nostrils). The blow- 

 ing, which is respiratory, is very audible. At one spot and time 

 the water was fairly agitated as these monsters rolled over, but 

 unfortunately only a small part of the creature's body can be 

 seen at the same moment, for if the head is above water the tail' 

 is under, and vice versa. 



One day when far from land, I scooped up a specimen of 

 Medusa from the surface of the sea ; and rinding it tenacious of 

 life placed it in a glass-vessel containing sea-water, in order to 

 watch its graceful motions, and examine its structure. It was 

 of a soft brown colour ; very complicated and delicate in its 

 organization, but probably belonged to the genus Chrysaora 

 The Medusae differ considerably among themselves, but are 

 generally mushroom shaped, and from the body, or disc, are 

 suspended 'numbers of tentacles. Besides this small form many 

 other Medusa; were seen during the voyage, and whilst approach- 

 ing the Straits of Juan de Fuga, when " homeward bound " we 

 passed through a regular field of them. On that occasion various 



♦Collected by Mr. W. H. Noble. 



