44 SEA EAGLE. 
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 conti- 
nent ; 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 couphng with the female Sea Eagle produces Sea 
Eagles ; and that the female Osprey by pairing with the male Sea Eagle 
gives birth to Ospreys"* 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, ex- 
ceedingly heavy, and of a dirty white color. Of the precise time of 
building we have no account, but something may be deduced from the 
following circumstance. In the month of May, while on a shooting ex- 
cursion along the sea-coast, not far from Great Egg Harbor, accompa- 
nied 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 woo<ls were cut down, and cleared off for several rods around 
the spot, which, from this circumstance, and the stately erect trunk, and 
large crooked Avriggling 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 save the eggs, or young, insisted on ascending 
to the nest, which he fearlessly performed, while we stationed ourselves 
below, ready to defend him in case of an attack from the old Eagles. 
No opposition, however, was offered ; and on reaching the nest, it was 
found, to aur disappointment, empty. It was built of large sticks, some 
of them several feet in length ; within which lay sods of earth, sedge, 
grass, dry reeds, &c., &c., piled to the height of five or six feet, by more 
than four in breadth ; it was well lined with fresh pine tops, and had little 
or no concavity. Under this lining lay the recent exuviae of the young 
of the present year, such as scales of the quill feathers, down, &c. Our 
guide had passed this place late in February, at which time both male 
and female were making a great noise about the nest ; and from what 
we afterwards learnt, it is highly probable it contained young, even at 
that early time of the season. 
A few miles from this is another Eagle's nest, built also on a pine 
tree, which, from the information received from the proprietor of the 
* Bu£fou, vol. I., p. 80, Trans. 
