WHITE-HEADED, OR BALD EAGLE. 827 
. 
sionally met with from a very high northern latitude, to the borders of 
the torrid zone, but chiefly in the vicinity of the sea, and along the 
shores and cliffs of our lakes and large rivers. Formed by nature for 
braving the severest cold; feeding equally on the produce of the sea 
and of the land; possessing powers of flight capable of outstripping 
even the tempests themselves; unawed by any thing but man; and, 
from the ethereal heights to which he soars, looking abroad, at one 
The Bald Eagle was met with in the overland arctic expedition, but, towards the 
north, was only a summer visitant: in the Fur Countries, it is one of the earliest, 
arriving in the month of March, which has thence received the name of Meekeeshew, 
or Eepeeshim, or Eagle month. It appears also migratory every where to the 
north; it was not met with to thé north of the Great Slave Lake, lat. 62° N., al- 
though it is common in the summer in the country lying between that and Lake 
Soperior, and its breeding-places in the district are numerous. In the month of 
October, when the rivers are frozen over, it entirely quits Hudson’s Bay lands; 
and it is only on the sea coasts that individuals can be then met with. 
In this place We mast introduce another splendid Fishing Eagle, which, if ulti- 
mately proved to be an undescribed species, will stand as the “Heeliceetus Wash- 
ingtonii of Audubon. It has been first beautifully figured and described by that 
gentleman, and a specimen of it exists in the Academy of Philadelphia. Its im- 
mense size, and some other differences, seem to keep it distinct from any species 
we are acquainted with, and it is most probably before this time proved to be new. 
We strongly suspect, however, that the state in which it is figured is not. that of the 
adult plumage, and that this is yet to be found: we can only. wish that its dis- 
coverer riay be successful in his present arduous journey. It must be of very rare 
occurrence, three or four being all that Mr. Audubon has ever found of it. We 
have transcribed the more essential parts of his description. From it there will 
be seen a difference in their habits from the Whitc-headed bird, building and roost- 
ing on rocks ; and in their mode of fishing, which is performed like the Osprey. 
t was in February, 1814, that Mr. Audubon first saw this bird, while on a tra- 
ding voyage on the Upper Mississippi. He was assured that it was rare ; and, 
from the accounts he received, being convinced that it was unknown to naturalists, 
he felt anxious to learn its habits, and to discover in what particulars it differed 
from the rest of its genus. Mr. Audubon did not again meet with it for some 
years, and his next meeting was partly accidental : he was engaged in collecting 
Crayfish, and perceived, on the steep and rocky banks of the Ohio, the marks of 
the breeding-place of some bird of prey. His inquiries among the people in the 
neighborhood Jed him to suppose that it was an. Eagle, different from any of those 
ete in America. He resolved to watch the nest; and the following is the re- 
sult: — 
“Jn high expectation I seated myself about a hundred yards from the, foot of 
the,rock. Never did time pass more slowly. T could not help betraying the most 
impatient curiosity, for my hopes whispered it was a Sea Eagle’s nest. ‘Two lon 
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. J 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 my 
companions. The slightest murmur had been treason from them. They entered 
into my feelings, and, though little interested, joined with me. Ina few minutes 
the other parent joined her mate. She glanced her quick and piercing eye around, 
and instantly perceived that her abode had been discovered. She dropped her 
prey, with a Joud shrick, communicated the alarm to the male, and, hovering with 
him over our heads, kept up a growling cry.” Tt wes not till two vears after that 
* Mr. Audabon had the good fortune to shoot this Eagle ; and the following descrip- 
‘tion was then taken : — 
“ Bill, bluish black, the edges pale; the soft margin towards the commissure, and 
the base of the under mandible, yellow ;_ cere, yellowish brown ; lore, light greenish 
hlue; iris, chestnut brown ; feet, deep yellow ; claws, bluish black ; upper part of the 
head, hind neck, hack scapulars, rump, tail-coverts, and posterior tibial feathers, 
blackish brown, glossed with a coppery tint; throat, fore neck, breast, and belly, 
