534 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



cession, and receiving some augmentation each season. When 

 placed in a naked tree, between the forks of the branches, it is 

 conspicuously seen at a great distance. 



" The eggs, which are from two to four, more commonly two 

 or three, are of a dull white colour, and equally rounded at both 

 ends, some of them being occasionally granulated. Incubation 

 lasts for more than three weeks ; but I have not been able to 

 ascertain its precise duration, as I have observed the female, on 

 different occasions, sit for a few days on the nest before laying 

 the first egg. Of this I assured myseK by climbing to the nest 

 every day in succession, during her temporary absence — a rather 

 perilous undertaking when the bird is sitting. 



" I have seen the young birds not larger than middle-sized 

 pullets. At this time, they are covered with a soft cottony kind 

 of down, their bills and legs appearing disproportionately large. 

 Their first plumage is of a greyish colour, tinted with brown of 

 different depths of tint ; and before the parents drive them off 

 from the nest they are fully fledged. 



" I once caught three young eagles of this species, when fully 

 fledged, by having the tree on which their nest was cut down. 

 It caused great trouble to secure them, as they could fly and 

 scramble much faster than any of our party could run. They, 

 however, gradually became fatigued, and, at length, were so 

 exhausted, as to offer no resistance when we were securing theiu 

 with cords. This happened on the border of the Lake Pont- 

 chartrain, in the month of April The parents did not think fit to 

 come within gunshot of the tree while the axe was at work." 



We will now turn to the second of these celebrated ornitho- 

 logists, and see what he has to say on the nesting of this 

 splendid bird : — 



" The nest of this species is generally fixed on a very large 

 and lofty tree, often in a swamp or morass, and difficidt to be 

 ascended. On some noted tree of this description, often a pine 

 or cypress, the Bald Eagle builds, year after year, for a long 

 series of years. When both male and female have been shot 

 from the nest, another pair has soon after taken possession. The 

 nest is large, being added to and repaired every season, until it 

 becomes a black prominent mass, observable at a considerable 

 distance. It is formed of large sticks, sods, earthy rubbish, hay, 

 moss, &c. 



