52 HALIAETUS. 



American species are fully detailed and beautifully de- 

 scribed by Wilson and Audubon, men whose merit i& 

 not that of having- attained dexterity in copying and 

 patching ; and the following account of our own is, if 

 less animated than their descriptions, yet, I believe, 

 more circumstantial than any hitherto published. The 

 Bird of Washington, of the last mentioned eminent ob- 

 server, seems to be a distinct species of this genus ; 

 but although superior in size, it is too nearly allied to 

 H. Albicilla, to be generally admitted as such, until 

 living individuals or skins of it can be shewn ; and, in 

 fact, differs little in appearance from a young bird of 

 that species, of which specimens have been seen not 

 much inferior to that represented in the " Birds of 

 America." By some, Haliaetus may be considered not 

 sufficiently distinct from Aquila, to hold the rank of a 

 genus ; but the Sea-eagles, and the Eagles properly so 

 called, certainly differ in their physiognomy, and ought 

 to be distinguished either as genera or subgenera. 



