56 
FALCO OSSIFRAGUS. 
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, exceedingly heavy, and 
of a dirty white colour. Of the precise time of building, 
we have no account ; hut something may be deduced 
from the following circumstance: — In the month of 
May, while on a shooting excursion along the sea coast, 
not far from Great Egg Harbour, accompanied 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 per- 
ceived slowly retreating from the nest, which, we found, 
occupied the centre of the top of a very large yellow 
pine. The woods were cut down, and cleared off, for 
several rods around the spot, which, from this circum- 
stance, and the stately, erect trunk, and large crooked, 
wriggling 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, how- 
ever, 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. 
