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one half above the orbit, and bearing a resemblance to a cup and ball, thus enabling the animal to see on all sides with equal ease. The 49 iris is naturally of a pale blue colour; but, when the animal is irritated, it varies from a very pale blue or lilac, to a deep crimson. Its form is also very remarkable, being a small oval, or rather a parallelogram, with the ends cut off, and lying tranversely across the ball. (fig. 50.) The black tufts mentioned above are the

lateral hoofs (fig. 51.), which the animal sheds annually, and which grow to the length of five or six inches (a). They are not shed together, or at stated periods; for those of the fore feet (a b), in this

[graphic]
[graphic]

example, are at present of different ages, and, conse

51

b

quently, of different lengths, the difference between them being exactly that represented in the sketch.

On the hump, or collar, the hair grows much longer than on the other parts of the body, forming a sort of curled mane, resembling, I should imagine, that of the bison. It is perfectly white, growing to the length of 1 ft. 6 in., and adding greatly to the height of the rising part behind the horns. At present the hair is only beginning to grow, but it will be in full beauty at the approach of the winter months, and will fall off gradually again in the early part of the succeeding spring. The keeper pointed out to Mr. Harvey, as a remarkable peculiarity, that

the dewlap (fig. 52.), in passing

52

between the fore legs (a), and under the body (b), seemed to divide itself into three parts, which they called the three stomachs (1, 2, 3), from their being very much acted on in the progress of digestion. I remain, Sir, &c.

Portland Terrace, Regent's Park,

May, 1828.

M. HARVEY.

ART. V. Notes on the Bird of Washington (Falco Washingtoniàna), or Great American Sea Eagle. (fig. 53.) By JOHN JAMES AUDUBON, Esq. F.L.S. F.R.S.E. &c.

It was on a winter's evening, in the month of February, 1814, that, for the first time in my life, I had an opportunity of seeing this rare and noble bird, and never shall I forget the delight it gave me. Not even Herschell when he discovered the famous planet which bears his name could have experienced more happy feelings. To have something new to relate, to become yourself a contributor to science, must excite the proudest emotions of the human heart. We were on a trading voyage, ascending the Upper Mississippi, the

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keen winter blasts whistled over our

heads, and the cold

from which I suf

fered had, in a great degree, extinguish

ed the deep interest which, at other seasons, this river has been wont to awake in me. I lay stretched beside our patroon; the safety of the cargo was forgotten, and the only thing that called forth my attention was the multitude of ducks, of different species, accompanied by vast flocks of swans, which from time to time would pass us. My patroon, a Canadian, had been engaged many years in the fur trade; he was a man of much intelligence, who, perceiving that these birds had engaged my curiosity, seemed only anxious to find some new object to divert me. The sea eagle flew over us. "How fortunate !" he exclaimed: "this is what I could have

wished. Look, Sir! the great eagle, and the only one I have seen since I left the lakes." I was instantly on my feet, and, having observed it attentively, concluded, as I lost it in the distance, that it was a species quite new to me. My patroon assured me that such birds were indeed rare; that they sometimes followed the hunters, to feed on the entrails of the animals they had killed, when the lakes were closed by the ice, but, when open, they would dive in the daytime after fish, and snatch them up in the manner of the fishing-hawk; that they roosted generally on the shelves of the rocks, where they built their nests, of which he had discovered several by the quantity of white exùviæ scattered below. His account will be found to accord with the observations which I had afterwards an opportunity of making myself. Being convinced that the bird was unknown to naturalists, I felt particularly anxious to learn its habits, and in what particulars it differed from the rest of its genus. Mr. Wilson had confounded it with the bald or white-headed eagle, one of the young of which he has given the figure of, to represent it. But I am strongly inclined to believe that he never saw this bird; for it must be acknowledged that he was a very close and accurate observer, and, had he met with it, could hardly have fallen into so great an error, unless he was deceived by the near resemblance which the young of these two species bear to each other in plumage, although their difference in size is very great but, in the old birds, the likeness ceases to exist; both in habits and appearance they are totally dissimilar. I watched a pair of these birds during a season, and frequently saw them copulate, as well as the other kind, but on no occasion did they mix.

The sea eagle of America is full one fourth larger in size, than any female specimen of the other kind I ever met with, old or young. In the United States, from Massachusetts to Louisiana on the seaboard, or as high as the mouth of the Missouri to the north-west, (I speak only of the extent of country I have visited, and where I have seen them,) these birds are very rare. This will appear to all, when I say that during my many long peregrinations more than eight or nine I never found, and only one nest. The sea eagle of European naturalists, of which Mr. Bewick has given a description, and also a figure, in a small wood-cut, is more like the species in question, as to form and plumage, than any other. In mentioning this gentleman, I cannot forbear expressing the high estimation in which I hold his splendid productions; I have no hesitation in pronouncing him a most elegant and faithful copier of nature, and the very best illustrator of Eng

lish ornithology. Mr. Wilson's figure is not so well done; it seems to be taken from a stuffed specimen.

My next meeting with this bird was a few years afterwards, whilst engaged in collecting crayfish, in one of those flats which border and divide Green River, in Kentucky, near its junction with the Ohio, from the range of high cliffs which, for some distance, follow the meanders of that stream. I observed on the rocks, which, at that place, are nearly perpendicular, a quantity of white ordure, thinking that owls resorted thither. I mentioned it to my companions, when one of them, who lived within a mile and a half of the place, told me that it was from the nest of the brown eagle, meaning the young of the white-headed eagle, with which he was acquainted. I assured him this could not be; and remarked that the old, as well as young, of that species never built in such places, but always in trees. Although he could not answer my objection, he stoutly maintained that a brown eagle of some kind, above the usual size, had built there; he added that he had espied the nest some days before, and had seen one of the old birds dive and catch a fish. This he thought strange, having, till then, always observed that brown and bald eagles procured this kind of food by robbing the fishhawks: but, if I felt particularly anxious to know what nest it was, I might soon satisfy myself, as the old birds would come and feed their young with fish; he had seen them do so before. In high expectation, I seated myself about a hundred yards from the foot of the rock. Never did time pass more slowly; I could not help betraying the most impatient curiosity, for my hopes whispered it was a sea eagle's nest. long hours had elapsed before the old bird made his appearance, which was announced to us by the loud hissings of the two young ones, who crawled to the extremity of the hole to receive a fine fish. I had a perfect view of this noble bird as he held himself to the edging rock, his tail spread, and his wings partly so, and hanging something like the barn bank, or social swallow. I trembled lest a word should escape from my companions, the slightest murmur had been treason from them; they entered into my feelings, and, although little interested, gazed with me. In a few minutes the other parent joined her mate, which, from the difference in size (the female being much larger), we knew to be the mother bird. She, also, had brought a fish; but, more cautious than her mate, ere she alighted, she glanced her quick and piercing eye around, and instantly perceived her procreant bed had been discovered; she dropped her prey, with a loud shriek communicated the alarm to the male, and, hovering with him over our heads,

Two

kept up a growling threatening cry, to intimidate us from our suspected design. This watchful solicitude I have ever found peculiar to the female: must I be understood to speak only of birds?

The young having hid themselves, we went and picked up the fish which the mother had let fall; it was a white perch, weighing about 5 lbs. ; the upper part of the head was broken in, and the back torn by the talons of the eagle. We had plainly seen her bearing it, in the manner of the fish-hawk.

This day's sport being at an end, as we journeyed homewards we agreed to return the next morning, being most anxious to procure both the old and young birds; but rainy and tempestuous weather setting in, our expedition was obliged to be postponed till the third day following, when, with guns and men all in readiness, we reached the rock. Some posted themselves at the foot, others upon it, but in vain. We passed the entire day, without either seeing or hearing an eagle the sagacious birds, no doubt, having anticipated an invasion, had removed their young to fresh quarters.

I come at last to the day I had so often and so ardently desired. Two years had gone by, since the discovery of the nest, in fruitless excursions; but my wishes were no longer to remain ungratified. In returning from the little village of Henderson to the house of Doctor R*****, about a mile distant, I saw one rise from a small enclosure not a hundred yards before me, where the doctor had a few days before slaughtered some hogs, and alight upon a low tree branching over the road. I prepared my double-barrelled piece, which I constantly carry, and went slowly and cautiously towards him; quite fearless he awaited my approach, looking upon me with an undaunted eye. I fired and he fell; before I reached him he was dead. With what delight I surveyed this magnificent bird! Had the finest salmon ever pleased him as he did me?- Never. I ran and presented him to my friend, with a pride which those can only feel, who, like me, have devoted their earliest childhood to such pursuits, and have derived from them their first of pleasures; to others, I must seem "to prattle out of fashion.” The doctor, who was an experienced hunter, examined the bird with much satisfaction, and frankly acknowledged he had never before seen or heard of it. The name I chose for this new species of eagle, "The Bird of Washington," may, by some, be considered as preposterous and unfit; but, being indisputably the noblest of the genus known to naturalists, I trust it will be allowed to retain it. To those, however, who may be curious to know my reasons, I can only

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