BIRD OF WASHINGTON. 69 



tion with the Ohio. The rivei- 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 perpendicular, a quantity of white 

 ordure, which I attributed to owls that might have resorted thither. I 

 mentioned the circumstance 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 leucocephalus) 

 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. He 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 the 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 Swallov/, his 

 tail spread, and his wings partly so. I trembled lest a word should 

 escape from my companions. The sUghtest murmur had been treason 

 from them. They entered into my feelings, and, although little inte- 

 rested, gazed with me. In a few minutes the other parent joined her 

 mate, and from the difference in size (the female of rapacious birds being 

 much larger), we knew this to be the mother bird. She also had brought 

 a fish ; but, more cautious than her mate, she glanced her quick and 

 piercing eye around, and instantly perceived that her abode had been 

 discovered. She di'opped her prey, with a loud shriek communicated the \ 

 alarm to the male, and, hovering with him over our heads, kept up a 

 growling cry, to intimidate us from our suspected design. This watch- 



