252 DR. p. L. SCLATER ON THK EUROPEAN SEA-EAGLE. [June 23, 



Gardens two young Eagles. Although it is not possible to be cer- 

 tain of the species of Haliaeti in their immature plumage, these two 

 birds seemed to be of the common European species, I was there- 

 fore much surprised when Mr. Crichton informed me that he had 

 obtained them in Nova Scotia. One of the two birds deposited by 

 Mr. Crichton died in our Gardens in June 1862. The companion 

 bird, which was presented by Mr. Crichton to Lord Lilford, still 

 lives in his lordship's menagerie, and, as I am informed by its noble 

 owner, although two years old, shows no indication of being anything 

 else than Halia'etus albicillus. I subjoin Mr. Crichton's kind reply 

 to my application for exact particulars as to the capture of these birds. 



"11 Eaton Place, S.W. 



" My DEAR ScLATER, — It would givc me the utmost pleasure 

 were I able to give you more satisfactory answers to your queries 

 concerning the American Eagle ; but I will tell you all I know about 

 them. One morning (August 12th, 1861) a rough-looking seafaring 

 Yankee appeared at the mess-room door of the barracks where I 

 was staying when at Halifax, Nova Scotia, with a young Eagle under 

 each arm, which he offered for sale. All I could learn from him was 

 that he had obtained them "somewhere up the coast" by cutting 

 down a tree. The exact spot (even had the man been aware of its 

 name, which I doubt) I am sorry I did not take the precaution to 

 register. I never felt perfectly certain myself as to what they were, 

 whether washingtonii, Jard., or leucocephalus, Savigny ; but the 

 present state of plumage of the survivor must begin to speak for 

 itself. I have not yet seen Lord Lilford this season, and so know 

 nothing of the present state of the case. With my best regards, 

 " Believe me, yours very truly, 



"Arthur William Crichton." 



" Saturday, June 20tli." 



So far for one instance, which appears tolerably conclusive as to 

 the breeding of Halia'etus albicillus in Nova Scotia. But I have a 

 second case, which seems equally circumstantial in its details. On 

 the 25th of last month Mr. J. Kendall, of Old Palace, Croydon, pre- 

 sented to the Society a specimen of the European Sea-Eagle, taken 

 from the nest near St. John's, Newfoundland, by his brother. In 

 answer to my application, Mr. Kendall informs me that he has 

 mislaid the letter that advised him of the shipment of the Eagle in 

 question, but that he is quite certain of its having been obtained by 

 his brother in Newfoundland in the manner stated. 



I shall, of course, not neglect to get further information of the 

 exact spot where this latter bird was obtained, when Mr. Kendall's 

 brother arrives in this country, which will shortly be the case. But 

 looking at the map, and observing the close proximity of the shores 

 of Southern Greenland (where Halia'etus albicillus is common) to 

 Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, I am only surprised that this bird 

 has never before been noticed on the American continent. 



P.S. Since this paper was read, I have received information from 

 Mr. Kendall that the Eagle in question was taken from a nest in 



