314 SEA EAGLE. 



feathered race, in their natural state, than that chastity of 

 attachment which confines the amours of individuals to those 

 of their own species only. That perversion of nature pro- 

 duced by domestication is nothing to the purpose. In no 

 instance have I ever observed the slightest appearance of a 

 contrary conduct. Even in those birds which never build a 

 nest for themselves, nor hatch their young, nor even pair, but 

 live in a state of general concubinage, — such as the cuckoo of 

 the old, and the cow bunting of the new continent, — there is 

 no instance of a deviation from this striking habit. I cannot, 

 therefore, avoid considering the opinion above alluded to, that 

 " the male osprey, by coupling with the female sea eagle, 

 produces sea eagles ; and that the female osprey, by pairing 

 with the male sea eagle, gives birth to osprey s," * or fish 

 hawks, as altogether unsupported by facts, and contradicted 

 by the constant and universal habits of the whole feathered 

 race in their state of nature. 



The sea eagle is said by Salerne to build on the loftiest 

 oaks a very broad nest, into which it drops two large eggs, 

 that are quite round, exceedingly heavy, and of a dirty white 

 colour. Of the precise time of building we have no account ; 

 but something may be deduced from the following circum- 

 stance : — In the month of May, while on a shooting excursion 

 along the sea-coast, not far from Great Egg Harbour, accom- 

 panied by my friend Mr Ord, we were conducted about a mile 

 into the woods to see an eagle's nest. On approaching within 

 a short distance of the place, the bird was perceived slowly 

 retreating from the nest, which, we found, occupied the centre 

 of the top of a very large yellow pine. The woods were cut 

 down and cleared off for several rods around the spot, which, 

 from this circumstance, and the stately, erect trunk, and large 

 crooked, wriggling branches of the tree, surmounted by a 

 black mass of sticks and brush, had a very singular and 

 picturesque effect. Our conductor had brought an axe with 

 him, to cut down the tree ; but my companion, anxious to 

 * Buffon, voL i. p. 80, Trans. 



