186 WILD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 



tion with the Ohio. The river is there bordered by a range 

 of high cliffs, which for some distance follow its windings. I 

 observed on the rocks which, at that place, are nearly per- 

 pendicular, a quantity of white ordure, which I attributed to 

 owls that might have resorted thither. I mentioned the cir- 

 cumstance to my companions, when one of them, who lived 

 within a mile and a half of the place, told me it was from the 

 nest of the Brown Eagle, meaning the White-headed Eagle 

 (Falco leucocepJialus] in its immature state. I assured him 

 this could not be, and remarked that neither the old nor the 

 young birds of that species ever build in such places, but 

 always in trees. Although he could not answer my objection, 

 he stoutly maintained that a brown eagle of some kind, above 

 the usual size, had built there ; and added that he had espied 

 the nest some days before, and had seen one of the old birds 

 dive and catch a fish. This he thought strange, having, till 

 then, always observed that both Brown Eagles and Bald 

 Eagles procured this kind of food by robbing the fish-hawks. 

 lie said that if I felt particularly anxious to know what nest 

 it was, I might soon satisfy myself, as the old birds would 

 come and feed their young with fish, for he had seen them do 

 so before. 



In high expectation, I seated myself about a hundred yards 

 from the foot of the rock. Never did time pass more slowly. 

 I could not help betraying tl\e most impatient curiosity, for 

 my hopes whispered it was a Sea Eagle's nest. Two long 

 hours had elapsed before the old bird made his appearance, 

 which was announced to us by the loud hissings of the two 

 young ones, which crawled to the extremity of the hole to 

 receive a fine fish. I had a perfect view of this noble bird as 

 he held himself to the edging rock, hanging like the Barn, 

 Bank, or Social Swallow, his tail spread, and his wings partly 

 so. I trembled lest a word should escape from my com- 

 panions. The slightest murmur had been treason from them. 

 They entered into my feelings, and, although little interested, 



