44 SEAEAGLB. 



have I ever observed the slightest appearance of a contrary conduct. 

 Even in those birds which never build a nest for themselves, nor hatch 

 their young, nor even pair, but live in a state of general concubinage : 

 such as the Cuckoo of the old, and the Covr Bunting of the new conti- 

 nent ; there is no instance of a deviation from this striking habit. I 

 cannot therefore avoid considering the opinion above alluded to, that 

 " the male Osprey by coupling with the female Sea Eagle produces Sea 

 Eagles ; and that the female Osprey by pairing with the male Sea Eagle 

 gives birth to Ospreys"* or Fish-Hawks, as altogether unsupported by 

 facts, and contradicted by the constant and universal habits of the whole 

 feathered race in their state of nature. 



The Sea Eagle is said by Salerne to build on the loftiest oaks a very 

 broad nest, into which it drops two large eggs, that are quite round, ex- 

 ceedingly heavy, and of a dirty white color. Of the precise 'time of 

 building we have no account, but sometJiing may be deduced from the 

 following circumstance. In the month of May, wliile on a shooting ex- 

 cursion along the sea-coast, not far from Great Egg Harbor, accompa- 

 nied by my friend Mr. Ord, we were conducted about a mile into the 

 woods, to see an Eagle's nest. On approaching within a short distance 

 of the place, the bird was perceived slowly retreating from the nest, 

 which we found occupied the centre of the top of a very large yellow 

 pine. The woods were cut down, and cleared off for several rods around 

 the spot, which, from this circumstance, and the stately erect trunk, and 

 large crooked wriggling branches of the tree, sui'mounted by a black 

 mass of sticks and brush, had a very singular and picturesque effect. 

 Our conductor had brought an axe with him to cut down the tree ; but 

 my companion, anxious to save the eggs, or young, insisted on ascending 

 to the nest, which lie fearlessly performed, while we stationed ourselves 

 below, ready to defend him in case of an attack from the old Eagles. 

 No opposition, however, was offered ; and on reaching the nest, it was 

 found, to o.ur disappointment, empty. It was built of large sticks, some 

 of them several feet in length ; within which lay sods of earth, sedge, 

 grass, dry reeds, &c., &c., piled to the height of five or six feet, by more 

 than four in breadth ; it was well lined with fresh pine tops, and had little 

 or no concavity. Under this lining lay the recent exuvioe of the young 

 of the present year, such as scales of the quill feathers, down, &c. Our 

 guide had passed this place late in February, at which time both male 

 and female were making a great noise about the nest ; and from what 

 we afterwards learnt, it is highly probable it contained young, even at 

 that early time of the season. 



A few miles from this is another Eagle's nest, built also on a pine 

 tree, which, from the information received from the proprietor of the 



b 



* Buffon, vol. I., p. 80, Trans. 



