RETURN JOURNEY TO OTTAWA RIVER 145 



which appears to be the Scops asio of the British; but 

 the bird varies so in different parts of the continent 

 that I cannot speak with certainty about it. There is 

 no uncertainty, however, about the long-eared owl, Asio 

 Americanus, or Asio otus of the British, about which there 

 is an everlasting dispute in the States, the Americans 

 insisting that their bird is a distinct species, uncontami- 

 nated by contact, in the most remote degree, with its 

 European ally. The long-eared and the great grey are 

 two of the most widely distributed species of owls in 

 British America, the latter being found throughout the 

 country wherever there are trees, for it is essentially a 

 wood-haunting bird. The long-eared owl has an even 

 greater range; for I have found it nearly everywhere, 

 from Fort Severn to New Orleans. 



Several times in the course of our journey we per- 

 ceived eagles hovering at a great height ; but they did 

 not come near enough to be identified. I think, however, 

 that there can be no doubt that they were the golden 

 species, Aquila chrysaetus. In Canada I have heard 

 attempts made to claim this eagle as a distinct species. 

 Most American ornithologists, however, admit that it is 

 identical with the European species. If I am not mis- 

 taken, the golden eagle is found close to the shores of 

 Hudson Bay. The white-headed eagle, the national 

 emblem of the United States, certainly is; for I shot 

 a fine specimen on one of the small lakes not more 

 than forty miles from the sea, and others were seen. 

 Notwithstanding the great size of these eagles, I have 

 never seen any reason to believe that they are courageous 

 birds. They are certainly not so plucky as some of the 

 small falcons. 



Animals of the pole-cat genus, such as the pine- 

 marten and fish-marten, were seen in all parts. These 

 have already been described. A glutton was also seen 

 near the lake on the banks of which Osnaburgh House is 

 situated; but this animal, on account of its shy habits, 



K 



