SEA EAGLE. 33 
in general, too wise, or too proud, to learn from their 
inferiors , the fowls of the air and beasts of the field. 
5 . FARGO OSSIFRAGUS , WILSON.* SEA EAGLE. 
WILSON, PLATE LV. FIG. II. EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 
This eagle inhabits the same countries, frequents the 
same situations, and lives on the same kind of food, as 
the bald eagle, with whom it is often seen in company. 
It resembles this last so much in figure, size, form of 
the bill, legs, and claws, and is so often seen associating 
with it, both along the Atlantic coast and in the vicinity 
of our lakes and large rivers, that I have strong sus- 
picions, notwithstanding ancient and very respectable 
authorities to the contrary, of its being the same species, 
only in a different stage of colour. 
That several years elapse before the young of the 
bald eagle receive the white head, neck, and tail; 
and that, during the intermediate period, their plumage 
strongly resembles that of the sea eagle, I am satisfied 
from my own observation on three several birds, kept 
by persons of Philadelphia. One of these, belonging to 
the late Mr Enslen, collector of natural subjects for the 
Emperor of Austria, was confidently believed by him to 
be the black, or sea eagle, until the fourth year, when 
the plumage on the head, tail, and tail-coverts, began 
gradually to become white ; the bill also exchanged 
its dusky hue for that of yellow ; and, before its death, 
this bird, which I frequently examined, assumed the 
perfect dress of the full-plumage d bald eagle. Another 
* This is the young of the falco leucocephalus , or white-headed 
eagle, not the young of the falco albicilla , or cinereous eagle, 
which is the sea eagle of Britain. — Editor. 
VOL, I, f C 
