WASHINGTON EAGLE AND FISH-HAWK. 293 



standing on the deck of a steamer, in which I was ascending 

 the Upper Mississippi, beyond Galena, I saw pass over us, 

 flying very low, an immense eagle which I instantly new to 

 be a new bird, and conjectured must be the Bird of Washing- 

 ton' but conjectures won't do in science. I distinctly re- 

 member the strangeness of the sensation the wild thrill 

 half awe and wonder with which I looked up when the 

 strange bird stirred the dim evening with the rush of mighty 

 pinions just above me. With what an eager eye I followed 

 up its slow and far recession with what tumultuous images 

 of fierce exulting freedom, boundless wilds and hidden mira- 

 cles of strength and beauty, I was filled ! 0, the power and 

 splendor of the world that weareth wings ! How should our 

 tyrannous will have known the infinite and conquered space, 

 but that these winged eagles taught us how tamed the ele- 

 ments, but that storm-cleaving pinions learned us first 

 defiance ? 



But this is scarcely to the point of our narrative. I have 

 fortunately seen the new bird vis-a-vis, within a few months, 

 and now know beyond conjecture that it does exist. During 

 a short stay in Louisville, in February of this year, '53, 1 was 

 informed by some kind friends of mine, of the existence of 

 a large specimen of eagles in the neighborhood at Cave-Hill 

 Cemetery which had been raised from a fledging by a gen- 

 tleman who has charge of the grounds. My friends asserted 

 confidently that it was the Bird of Washington, and I, with 

 great eagerness, immediately proposed a visit to the cemetery. 

 A small party of us accordingly rode out the next morning. 

 We were courteously received by the gentleman owning the 

 bird, and forthwith conducted to its barred prison. There I 

 found perched, to my great delight, a magnificent eagle, of 

 greater size than any with which I was familiar, in full and 

 perfect health and splendid plumage. The owner assured 

 me that he had held the bird in his possession for five years. 



Having heard through some correspondent of his, that 

 there was a pair of large Fishing Eagles frequenting certain 



