SEA EAGLE. 
311 
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 our 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. 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 woods, had been long the residence of 
this family of Eagles. The tree on which the nest was 
originally built, had been, for time immemorial, or at least 
ever since he remembered, inhabited by these Eagles. Some 
of his sons cut down this tree to procure the young, which 
were two in number ; and the Eagles, soon after, commenced 
building another nest, on the very next adjoining tree, thus 
exhibiting a very particular attachment to the spot. The 
Eagles, he says, make it a kind of home and lodging place , in 
all seasons. This man asserts, that 'the Gray, or Sea Eagles, 
are the young of the Bald Eagle, and that they are several 
years old before they begin to breed. It does not drive its 
young from the nest, like the Osprey, or Fish Hawk, but 
continues to feed them long after they leave it. 
The bird from which the figure in the plate was drawn, and 
which is reduced to one-third the size of life, measured three 
feet in length, and upwards of seven feet in extent. The bill 
was formed exactly like that of the Bald Eagle, but of a dusky 
brown colour; cere and legs, bright yellow; the latter, as in 
