BALD EAGLE. 83 



and so deadened his enthusiasm, that he saw with indif- 

 ference myriads of aquatic birds passing before him as 

 they descended the river. All at once an Eagle flew 

 above his head; he raised himself up and knew at the 

 first glance that it was to him a new species. He im- 

 mediately disembarked, and saw the Eagle directing its 

 flight to some high rocks. Next morning he fixed 

 himself opposite the place, and waited patiently for a 

 sight of this bird. After some hours of expectation 

 he heard a hissing noise, and saw at the edge of the 

 most elevated point of the rock two birds agitated with 

 signs of impatience and joy. These were the Eaglets 

 welcoming the return of their parents: the father appeared 

 first, holding in his beak a fish, which he carried to his 

 young ones; then the mother came also with a fish; but 

 more prudent than her companion, she looked round in 

 defiance, and perceived the man immoveable on the sur- 

 face of the rock. She immediately let fall her prey, and 

 began to fly round above him screaming, to send him 

 off. The young having concealed themselves, Audubon 

 picked up the fish, which was a large perch. He came 

 the next day but saw nothing. Again the following 

 morning, and waited all day, but his invasion had been 

 foreseen, and the family had changed quarters. Two 

 years afterwards he shot a specimen, and named it A. 

 washingtonii. The following winter he was able to 

 observe at his leisure the habits of another pair of these 

 birds." 



The Bald Eagle nests on the escarpments of rocks, 

 and, according to Nilsson, on the largest and highest 

 trees. Degland says it lays two eggs, which are white 

 or a yellowish grey, more or less dark, with some few 

 slightly apparent reddish grey spots. The interior of 

 the egg shell is of a beautiful grass green. 



