444 AVES—EAGLE. 
differed from the rest of its genus. Mr Wilson had confounded it with the 
pald or white headed eagle, one of the young of which he has given the 
figure of, to represent it. But Iam strongly inclined to believe, that he 
never saw this bird; for it must be acknowledged that he was a very close 
and accurate observer, and, had he met with it, could hardly have fallen 
into so great an error, unless he was deceived by the near resemblance 
which the young of these two species bear to each other in plumage, 
although their difference in size is very great; but, in the old birds, the 
likeness ceases to exist; both in habits and appearance they are totally 
dh ssimilar. 
‘Whe sea eagle of America is full one fourth larger in size, than any 
female specimen of the other kind I ever met with, old or young. In the 
United States, from Massachusetts to Louisiana on the seaboard, or as high 
as the mouth of the Missouri to the north-west, (I speak only of the extent 
of country I have visited, and where I have seen them,) these birds are very 
rare. This will appear to all, when I say that during my many long 
peregrinations, more than eight or nine I never found, and only one nest. 
The sea eagle of European naturalists, of which Mr Bewick has given a 
description, and also a figure, in a small wood cut, is more like the species 
in question, as to form and plumage, than any other. In mentioning this 
gentleman, I cannot forbear expres sing the high estimation in which I hold 
his splendid productions; I have no hesitation in pronouncing him a most 
elegant and faithful copier of nature, and the very best illustrator of English 
ornithology. Mr Wilson’s figure is not so well done; it seems to be taken 
from a stuffed specimen. 
“My next meeting with this bird was a few years afterwards, whilst 
engaged in collecting cray-fish, in one of those flats which border and divide 
Green River, in Kentucky, near its junction with the Ohio, from the range 
of high cliffs which, for some distance, follow the meanders of the stream. 
I observed on the rocks, which, at that place, are nearly perpendicular, a 
quantity of white ordure. — Thinking that owls resorted thither, I mentioned 
it to my companions, when one of them, who lived within a mile and a half 
of the place, told me that it was from the nest of the brown eagle; meaning 
the young of the white-headed eagle, with which he was acquainted. I 
assured him this could not be; and remarked that the old, as well as young, 
of that species never built in such places, but always in trees. Although he 
cold not answer my objection, he stoutly maintained that a brown eagle 
of some kind, above the usual size, had built there; he added that he had 
discovered 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 observ- 
ed that brown and bald eagles procured this kind of food by robbing the fish- 
hawks; but 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; he had seen them do so before. In high expectation, I seated myself 
