WASHINGTON EAGLE AND FISH-HAWK. 
293 
standing on tlie deck of a steamer, in whicli I was ascending 
the Upper Mississippi, beyond Galena, I saw pass over ns, 
flying very low, an immense eagle wliicli I instantly new to 
be a new bird, and conjectured must be the Bird of Washing- 
ton — but conjectures won't do in science. I distinctly re- 
member the strangeness of the sensation — the wild thrill^ — • 
half awe and wonder — with which I looked up when the 
strange bird stirred the dim evening Avith the rush of mighty 
pinions just above me. With what an eager eye I followed 
up its slow and far recession — with what tumultuous images 
of fierce exulting freedom, boundless wilds and hidden mira- 
cles of strength and beautj^, I was filled ! O, the power and 
splendor of the world that weareth wings ! How should our 
tyrannous will have known the infinite and conquered space, 
but that these winged eagles taught us — ^liow tamed the ele- 
ments, but that storm-cleaving pinions learned us first 
defiance ? 
But this is scarcely to the point of our narrative. I have 
fortunately seen the new bird vis-a-vis^ within a few months, 
and now know beyond conjecture that it does exist. During 
a short stay in Louisville, in February of this year, '53, 1 was 
informed by some kind friends of mine, of the existence of 
a large specimen of eagles in the neighborhood — at Cave-Hill 
Cemetery — which had been raised from a fledging b}^ a gen- 
tleman who has charge of the grounds. My friends asserted 
confidently that it was the Bird of Washington, and I, with 
great eagerness, immediately proposed a visit to the cemetery. 
A small party of us accordingly rode out the next morning. 
We were courteously received by the gentleman owning the 
bird, and fortliwith conducted to its barred prison. There I 
found perched, to my great delight, a magnificent eagle, of 
greater size than any with which I was familiar, in full and 
perfect health and splendid plumage. The owner assured 
me that he had held the bird in his possession for five years. 
Having heard through some correspondent of his, that 
there was a pair of large Fishing Eagles frequenting certain 
