HALIAETUS PELAGICUS. 
NORTHERN SEA-EAGLE. 
aquila pelagioa. 
AQUILA MARINA. 
FALCO IMPERATOR. 
FALCO LEUCOPTERUS. 
HALIAETUS PELAGICUS. 
Pallas. Zoog. Rosso-Asiat., Yol. I. p. 343. 
Stellek. Mss. Pallas as quoted. 
Kjttlitz. Kupf. Nat. Yog. pt. I. p. 3. 
Tkmm. Plan. Col., Yol. I. p. 
Cass. B. of Amer., p. 42. — Id. B. of Cal., p. 31, pi. 6. 
The genus Haliaetus is composed of those species of this family which subsist in a great degree upon fish, and are accustomed to frequent 
the sea-coasts of the various countries they inhabit. The magnificent bird which is the subject of this article, is the largest of all known Eagles, 
and frequents the seas of Northeu Asia and America. Of great power of wing, its range is probably very extensive, yet it is not known to extend 
its journeyings far to the south, preferring to dwell amid the vast solitudes of the extreme Northern portions of the old and new Worlds. There, 
says Mr. Cassin, “ in the bleak regions of almost perpetual winter, the Great Sea Eagle reigns a mighty chieftain, without a competitor, and with 
power unrivalled, finding ample subsistence in the arctic quadrupeds, and in the fishes of the northern seas, or occasionally levying tribute from 
the hosts of feathered travellers that make their annual pilgrimage to the places of their nativity, and intrude on his domain.” 
The nest of this mighty bird is placed on the rocky cliffs overhanging the sea, and the young are abundantly supplied by the parents with 
fish until they are able to provide for themselves. As no American Ornithologist has ever yet met with this bird in its native wild, I am unable to 
o-ive anv account of it derived from such sources, but Pallas, a distinguished Russian naturalist, who first described the species, relates the follow 
© V 1 
ing facts regarding it : 
“ Stellek, worthy of a better fate, first observed this remarkable species, and in his manuscripts briefly described it. Now, also, I have 
before me an elegantly prepared specimen from my friend Billings, wdio, with the last navigator, explored the ocean between Kamtchatka and 
the American Continent, especially in the islands noted for the unfortunate shipwreck and death of Behring. It appears very rarely in Kamtchatka 
itself. In the highest rocks overhanging the sea, it constructs a nest of two ells in diameter, composed of twigs of fruit and other trees, gathered 
from a great distance, and strewed with grass in the centre, in which are one or two eggs, in form, magnitude and whiteness, very like those of 
a swan. The young are hatched in the beginning of June, and have an entirely white woolly covering. While Steller was cautiously viewing 
such a nest from a precipice, the parents darted with such an unforeseen impetuosity, as nearly to throw him headlong ; the female having been 
wounded both flew away, nor did they return to the nest, which was watched for two days, but as if lamenting they often sat on an opposite 
rock. It is a bold bird, very cunning, circumspect, observant, and of savage disposition. Steller saw a fox {Vulpes Lagopothis ) carried off by 
one, and dashed upon the rocks, and afterwards torn in pieces. It subsists also upon dead substances cast up by the sea, and various off- 
scourings of the ocean.” 
It will be seen by the foregoing, that this Great Eagle does not confine itself to feeding solely upon fish, but will also seize quadrupeds, for 
which it probably hunts, flying low over their places of refuge, and doubtless it wall not disdain to make a meal upon carrion, if met with, during 
some of its long flights. The adult H. Pelagicus is truly a magnificent bird, and stands unrivalled in its regal appearance among its relatives. 
The white of the shoulders, thighs and tail, forms a striking and beautiful contrast to the dark brown hue of the remainder of the plumage, and 
serves to make it a highly Conspicuous object whenever seen. 
The species may be described as follows : Shoulders and tail with upper and under coverts, pure white ; rest of plumage rich dark umber 
brown. Quills black. Bill and feet yellow. The figure is about half the natural size. 
