WHITE-HEADED, OR BALD EAGLE. 93 



Falls, have been dragged into trie current, and precipitated 

 down that tremendous gulf, where, among the rocks that 

 bound the Rapids below, they furnish a rich repast for the 



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 ap- 

 pears also migratory everywhere to the North ; it was not met with to 

 the north of the Great Slave Lake, lat. 62° N. although it is common in 

 the summer in the country lying between that and Lake Superior, and 

 its breeding-places in the district are numerous. In the month of Octo- 

 ber, 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 must introduce another splendid fishing eagle, which, 

 if ultimately proved to be an undescribed species, will stand as the 

 Hceliceetus Washingtonii 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 immense 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 has yet to be found : we can only wish 

 that its discoverer may 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 white-headed bird, building and roosting on rocks ; and in 

 their mode of fishing, which is performed like the osprey. 



It was in February, 1814, that Mr Audubon first saw this bird, while 

 on a trading voyage on the Upper Mississipi. 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 meet- 

 ing 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 neighbourhood led him to suppose that it was an eagle, different 

 from any of those known in America. He resolved to watch the nest ; 

 and the following is the result : — 



" 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 



