318 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



smooth, dull white, brushed over with undefined patches of brown, which are 

 most numerous at the larger end. This description is not quite accurate in 

 regard to size. The European egg is presumed to be larger than the American, 

 yet the largest I have ever seen measures but 3.19 inches in length by 2.31 

 in breadth. An egg of the European bird in the British Museum, and 

 another represented in Hewitson's British Oology, which closely resembled 

 it, were marked over the entire surface with small but distinct blotches of 

 reddish-brown on a white ground. One in my collection, taken in Scotland, 

 is nearly unmarked. A distinctly bluish-white ground is faintly stained 

 with a few very obscure markings of slate and purplish-brown. 



Mr. MacFarlane furnishes very full and interesting notes and observations 

 on the habits of our canadensis, as attentively studied by him in the neigh- 

 borhood of Anderson River, near the Arctic Ocean. Our limits will only 

 permit us to give a summary of his valuable memoranda. In a large 

 majority of instances the nests were built against the face of a steep bank, 

 some sixty or seventy feet from the ground, and about thirty from the sum- 

 mit. They were very strongly constructed with dry sticks, usually of willow, 

 and formed a platform on the top, in the centre of wdiich the eggs were 

 found on a bed composed of moss, hay, and feathers. These platforms were 

 usually about six by seven feet, and ranged from four to six in height. It is 

 said to be " not very scarce in that quarter," and to be " a resident, in the 

 summer, of the entire Arctic coast and rivers." Mention is made of ten 

 nests observed by him, and eggs taken therefrom. In several instances these 

 eggs were white and unspotted, exciting his doubts whether they might be- 

 long to the leucocephalus. 



According to Mr. MacFarlane they feed on ducks, mice, and other small 

 animals, partridges, and the fawn of the reindeer. In confinement they are 

 fierce and nearly untamable, though they readily eat the food that is given 

 them, whether fish or meat. Even when taken young from the nest they 

 evince the same fearless and intractaljle disposition. In one instance a 

 young female killed its older companion by piercing it with her talons. 

 When first observed, she was standing on and plucking the feathers from 

 the body of the slain bird. This was the second bird tliis same ferocious, 

 but comparatively tame. Eagle had thus destroyed. When the cage was 

 removed outside, though the weather was very cold, the Eagles did not seem 

 to mind it much, but exercised themselves with jumping off and on their 

 roosting-pole, and seemed very much interested in all that was taking place 

 within the Fort square. They ke])t their plumage in a cleanly condition, 

 and were generally a very clean bird in all respects. During the fine weather 

 the Eagles were more lively than on other occasions. When feeding they 

 drooped both wings, and, if disturbed, arched their necks and moved their 

 heads in a threatening manner, spreading out their tails like a fan. They 

 grasped the meat or fish in the talons of either leg, and tore it with their 

 beaks. After feeding, they invariably removed any blood or other impurities 



