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HALIAETUS PELAGICTTS.
N O E T I EM SEA-EAGLE.
AQUILA PELAGICA. P a lla s . Zoog. Rosso-Asiat., Yol. I . p . 343.
AQUILA MARINA. S t e l l e r . Mss. Pallas as quoted.
FALCO IMPERATOR. Kittlitz. Kupf. Nat. Vog. pt. I. p. 3.
The genus Haliaetus is composed of those species o f this family which subsist in a great degree upon fish, and are accustomed to frequent
the sea-coasts o f 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 Northen Asia and America. Of great power o f 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,
vs Mr Cassis, “ 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 o f their nativity, and intrude on his domain.”
The nest o f 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 over yet met with this bird in its native wild, I am. unable to
give any account o f it derived from such sources, but P a l la s , a distinguished Russian naturalist, who first described the species, relates the follow
inn facts regarding iti : ... . . - t .t ■
“ S t e l l e r 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 B illin g s , who, 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
‘tself In the highest rocks overhanging the sea, it constructs a nest of two ells in diameter, composed of twigs o f fruit and other trees, gathered
f 1 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
swan The young are hatched in the beginning of June, and have an entirely white woolly covering. While Steller was cautiously viewing
a T 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 Lagopodus) 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-
BC°UIt 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
h robably huntS( flying low over their places of refuge, and doubtless it will not disdain to make a meal upon carrion, if met with, during
" l° of jte lo 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 o f 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 nch dark umber
brown. Quills black. Bill and feet yellow. The figure is about half the natural size.