THE EIKEi's OWK VERDICT. 101 



If so, what is his present plumage compared to that which 

 he formerly bore ? Did his tail bear the white ring at 

 the base, and has it now disappeared (as Mr Selby asserts 

 it to do) ? Is he now a mature golden eagle, corresponding 

 to the descriptions usually given of that bird by authors ? 

 Do you, upon the whole, adhere to the original belief of 

 these birds being distinct, or do you rather incline to Mr 

 Selby 's notion of their being one and the same 1 I shall 

 be at all times happy to procure for you any information 

 in my power which you may be desirous of obtaining 

 from this quarter in furtherance of your ornithological 

 pursuits, and I beg again to apologise for the liberty I 

 have taken. — I remain, etc., 



"James Wilson." 



An appeal to the king of birds himself confirmed the 

 conclusions of the Northumbrian ornithologist;* but the 

 above letter was the renewal of an acquaintance which 

 ripened into a life-long friendship, confirmed by mutual 

 esteem as well as kindred tastes, and nut a little conducive 

 to the happiness both of Sir William and his correspon- 

 dent, Neither the lordly apartments of the Royal Society, 

 nor the collections of the College Museum and Libra 

 could have furnished a more delightful retreat to a savant 



* Sir "William's eagle sat for its portrait, which now forms Plate_2 of 

 Mr Selby's u Illustrations." 



