THE BIRD OF WASHINGTON, 
265 
ensured its independence is next to my heart. He had 
a nobility of mind, and a generosity of soul, such as are 
seldom possessed. He was brave, so is the eagle ; like 
it, too, he was the terror of his foes ; and his fame, 
extending from pole to pole, resembles the majestic 
soarings of the mightiest of the feathered tribe. If 
America has reason to be proud of her Washington, so 
has she to be proud of her great eagle. 
“ In the month of January following, I saw a pair of 
these eagles Hying over the falls of the Ohio, one in 
pursuit of the other. The next day I saw them again. 
The ^female had relaxed her severity, had laid aside 
her coyness, and to a favourite tree they continually 
resorted. I pursued them unsuccessfully for several 
days, when they forsook the place. 
“ The flight of this bird is very different from that of 
the white-headed eagle. The former encircles a greater 
space, whilst sailing, keeps nearer to the land and the 
surface of the water, and when about to dive for fish, 
falls in a spiral manner, as if with the intention of 
checking any retreating movement which its prey 
might attempt, darting upon it only when a few yards 
distant. The fish-hawk often does the same. When 
rising with a fish, the bird of Washington flies to a 
considerable distance, forming, in its line of course, a 
very acute angle with the surface line of the water. 
My last opportunity of seeing this bird, was on the 
15th of November, 1821, a few miles above the mouth 
of the Ohio, when two passed over our boat, moving 
down the river with a gentle motion. In a letter 
from a kind relative, Mr W. Bake well, dated c Falls 
of the Ohio, July, 1819/ and containing particulars 
relative to the swallow-tailed hawk, ( Falco furcatus ,) 
that gentleman says : — s Yesterday, for the first time, 
I had an opportunity of viewing one of those magnificent 
birds, which you call the sea eagle, as it passed low 
over me, whilst fishing. I shall be really glad when I 
can again have the pleasure of seeing your drawing 
of it.’ 
i( Whilst in Philadelphia, about twelve months ago, I 
