States is in the collection of the Philadelphia bill and legs yellow. Younger-tail white, Academy, and is from Bhering's Straits. From more or less marked with brownish black. All it the drawing was made for the cut now before other parts brownish black; lighter on the head the reader. and neck. Quills black, the shorter quills white at base; bill and feet yellow. Total length, (female,) 3 feet 10 inches; wing, 2 feet 2 inches; tail, 1 foot 4 inches. Several of the naturalists who have visited California since that country has become a portion of the United States have informed us that they occasionally saw large species of Eagles, or other large rapacious birds, of which they did not succeed in procuring specimens, nor in approaching sufficiently, near to examine them satisfactorily. We do not despair of seeing the Great Sea Eagle, from California or Oregon, yet rewarding the exertions of some active and enthusiastic young naturalist. The following is a translation of the account of this Eagle, by Pallas: "Steller, worthy of a better fate, first observed this remarkable species, and in his manuscripts described it briefly. Now, also, I have before me an elegantly prepared specimen from my friend Billings, who, with the last navigator, explored the ocean between Kamschatka and America. This very large bird is frequent in the islands between Kamschatka and the American continent, especially in those noted for the unfortunate shipwreck and death of Bhering. It appears rarely in Kamschatka itself. "In the highest rocks overhanging the sea, this bird constructs a nest of two ells in diameter, composed of twigs of trees, gathered from a great distance, and strewed with grass in the center, in which are one or two eggs, in form, magnitude and whiteness very like those of a swan. The young are hatched in the beginning of June, and have an entirely wooly covering. While Steller was cautiously looking at a nest from a precipice the parent eagles darted at him with such impetuosity as nearly to throw him headlong. The female having been wounded, both flew away, nor did they return to their nest for two days. But, as if lamenting, they often sat on an opposite precipice. It is a bold, very cunning, circumspect bird, and of savage disposition. Steller saw a fox carried off by one and dashed upon the rocks, and afterward torn to pieces. It lives also on dead substances cast up by the sea, and various offscourings of the ocean." DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.Haliaetus Pelagicus. (Pallas.) Aquila Pelagica. Pallas's Zoology of Asiatic Russia, I, p. 343, (1811.) Temminck's Pl. Col., I, pl. 489. Cassin's B. of Cal. and Texas, I, pl. 6. The largest of the Eagles. Wings rather shorter than usual in this genus; tail wedge shaped, composed of fourteen feathers. Adultlarge space on the forehead, greater wing coverts, abdomen and tail white, all other parts of the plumage dark brown or brownish black; VOL. III-8. Habitation.-Russian American Islands, Japan. Spec. in Mus. Acad., Philada., from Bhering's Straits. 3. HALIAETUS LEUCOCEPHALUS. (Linnæus.) THE BALD EAGLE-THE WHITE-HEADED EAGLE. The Bald Eagle is the most fortunate of birds, having been immortalized as the armorial emblem of our country. Not entirely on the score of merit, nor of good moral character, as the great Dr. Franklin is said to have hinted, but he is at least a bird of highly respectable appearance; in fact, one of the handsomest of the Eagles. Dr. Franklin objected, as we have said, to the bad character of the Bald Eagle, and rather preferred the Turkey. The latter would is a boisterous and gostering style of fowl. have been a very inappropriate selection; he Young America has no liking for too much palaver, and has proved to be much more of a fighting chicken than either Eagle or Turkey. The Eagle has it, though, and is rendered famous for all ages. May Young America always be right, as he ever has, and fight accordingly! his head and tail. When young his plumage is entirely dark brown. His nearest relations are the Sea Eagle of Europe, mentioned in this article, and several African species. He feeds his young with great attention and with profusion, supplying them with a full assortment of the smaller animals of the neighborhood, including, of course, fish. DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.Haliaetus Leucocephalus. (Linnæus.) Notwithstanding the nobility of character when in adult plumage, by the pure white of usually attributed to the Eagles and brother birds of the family of Falcons, there is really nothing in their habits or history to be regarded as either noble or magnanimous. Such ideas seem to have originated when the sciences, and especially Natural History, was in some measure mythical and fabulous. Possessed of graceful forms, piercing vision, and soaring flight, these celebrated birds are well adapted to attract attention, even from the most dull or careless observer. They are, however, mighty plunderers, and nothing more. But they have a place in all literature; poets have sung of their prowess, and have vaunted them as types and similes. We could multiply quotations, very many of which are erroneous in fact and principle, and utterly improper to be entertained. When, from the mountain fastnesses of our native and beloved land, the Eagle darts before thee on strong pinion, be reminded only that thou art an American; regard him not as a type of nobility nor of conquest; like him, be free! The Bald Eagle inhabits the whole of North America to the confines of the Arctic circle. It is found also in North-eastern Asia, and occasionally strays into Central Europe. In the vicinity of Hudson's Bay it is strictly migratory, arriving early in the Spring and departing southwardly in Autumn, and in the countries of the far North it raises its young as well as elsewhere almost throughout North America. It forms a rude nest, frequently of large size, and generally near a river, and either on a rocky cliff or, as a substitute, a lofty tree. In the Winter season both adults and young are constantly to be found in the vicinity of the sea shores of both sides of this continent, and also along the larger rivers. This Eagle is essentially a fisherman, preferring, apparently. the capture of fish to any other occupation, though rejecting scarcely anything in the line of animal diet, especially when pressed by hunger. He is not at all above carrion feeding, and is a regular visiter to the carcasses of whatever domestic animals die during his Winter residence on the coast of New Jersey, and other States on the Atlantic. In fact, no small portion of his supply is derived from dead fish thrown upon the beach, but he occasionally captures them for his own account, as well as various kinds of sea birds, even of the largest species, such as swans and geese, and also small quadrupeds. This handsome Eagle is easily recognized. Falco Leucocephalus. Linn Syst. Nat., I., p. 124, (1766.) Catesby's Nat. Hist. Carolina, I., pl. 1. Vieillot's Birds of North America, I, pl. 3. Wilson's Am. Orn., IV. pl. 36. Aud. B. of Am., pl. 31, 126 ; Oct. ed., I, pl. 14. Adult-head, tail and its upper and under coverts white; entire other plumage brownish black; bill, feet and irides yellow. Younger— entire plumage dark brown, throat paler; tail, more or less mottled with white, extending with age. Total length, (female,) about 35 inches; wing, 23 inches; tail, 14 inches. Male smaller. Habitation. All of temperate North America. Spec. in Mus. Acad., Philada., and Nat. Mus., Washington. THE NIGHT OF LOVE. BY THE AUTHOR OF MAGGIE BELL." The night unto my soul has come, The overshadowing night; From weary flight, My love returns unto its nest, There is no star of promise in the sky- Of hope or better destiny My love must keep within its nest; The moon of faith in clouds has set; My love must keep within its nest, The night unto my soul has come, My love will die within its nest To die at rest. CHAPIN BEL cious Cowboys, as a lawless band of renegades had been named by the people of the Glen, because they drove away their herds and bartered them to either of the belligerent parties, as best suited their interest or convenience. New Jersey has often been called the Flanders of America, and it certainly earned the name by the number of battles fought upon its soil, and by the expenditure of life and money, in the great war of the Revolution. Ramapo Valley suffered more than any other locality. Three years the American army encamped therein, and its fastnesses were often in the hands of the enemy, or usurped by marauders, who killed and pillaged either army without principle and without mercy. What is now called Ramapo was formerly spelled Ramapangh, as is attested by old records still extant. The name is of Indian origin, the valley having once been the residence of a powerful tribe. For several years after the close of the War of Independence, the remnants of the tribe of Ramapaugh returned to the valley for the purpose of burying their dead, and to celebrate also some of the ancient festivals of their people. Slowly they dwindled away, till one solitary man, bent with years, returned to lay his bones with his fathers. He was taciturn and lonely-avoided companionship, and supplied his simple wants by trapping and fishing. "Here." said my guide and friend, pointing to a slight opening in the woods, under a shoulder of the mountain, where the stream rested itself, in the shadow of the forest and rock, "Here was where he built his cabin-a stern old warrior, scarred in many a battle. But he was very gentle, though unwilling to talk, and shunning observation. We called him old Ramapaugh, and sometimes the Bald Eagle. He was a perfect Jove in aspect. Do you see that rock there, rising up naked against the sky? I have seen old Ramapaugh seated there by the hour-his blanket folded around him, his eagle tuft waving in the air, and he as motionless and as sharply defined as the rock on which he sat." "Heavens!" I exclaimed, "what a grand statue he must have made there against the sky, the eagles wheeling above him, the river flowing beneath, and the old woods sweeping off in the distance. It was the genius of his peoplesilent, stern, gazing with an eye of rebuke upon the miserable interlopers who had robbed them of their heritage." "Even so," returned my guide. "One day it was remarked there was no smoke from the hut of Ramapaugh-he had gone to hunt, it was thought-the next day it was the same. He might not have returned-Ramapaugh did not like any intermeddling. But when the fourth day came, and there was still no smoke curling like a stream of incense through the trees, up the side of the rock, Heavenward, we went in a body to learn what it should mean. The door of the cabin was closed; green branches were spread upon the floor-a pipe, inverted. was laid across the threshold-upon a pile of skins was stretched the body of the old warrior. His tomahawk was in one hand, his bow in the other; a quiver full of arrows at his side. His white locks were newly braided, and crowned with plumes of the war eagle, while his face was bravely painted; thus were the rites performed by himself, and thus had he gone out on that long journey, prepared to meet his people in the spirit-land." As my guide finished his narrative he arose, and we both walked to a little inclosure, thickly grown with the wild raspberry and blackberry, looking like a small, lonely island in a sea of wheat, for the inclosure was in the midst of a cultivated field. “Here,” said he, as we leaned over the rude | three campaigns. Yonder is the old farm-house. wall, here are the ashes of the tribe, and in the midst we laid the body of Ramapaugh, just as he had prepared himself for burial." We gazed awhile in silence upon the restingplace of the tribe. Indeed, the pretty cemetery looked to me like a beautiful funeral urn, in which was held the ashes of nat.on. Cie transit. As we proceeded up the valley, my friend, who was nearly blind with years, leaned heavily upon his staff and pointed out one locality after another as if by instinct. "Alas! that you are blind," I exclaimed; "this lovely valley must be full of memories, and they will fade, one after another, for lack of some hand to transfer them to history." "Even so," he replied; "and yet when I walk over this remembered ground, where I have wandered when a child, every spot rendered sacred by the footprints of the great Savior of our Country, who passed through here again and again, my youth returns to me once more my memories quicken the worn organ of sight, and I see again." I looked into the old man's eyes, and a clear light emanated therefrom; his cheek glowed, and the old man had renewed his youth like the eagle. 'Listen,” he said; "I feel I am walking this valley for the last time; before I descend the silent one to the long bourne, I have a story to tell you, and you must commit it to paper. It is an incident which gave the turning point to the Revolution. It is true-it must be recorded-mind, it is true." Mr. Pierson spoke sternly and slowly, as a man of ninety years has a right to speak to us of to day. I promised to obey; and then the old man, who had stopped in his path, went on, pausing at intervals to point out the several places of interest. "Do you see that old hemlock, there?" and he pointed to a column which shot eighty feet into the air, unmarked by a single branch, while the top spread itself into numerous branches. What the palm tree is to the tropical landscape, the hemlock or pine tree is to the hyperborean. "Stately as the palm tree" is a metaphor of youth and power in the Orient, and "shapely as the pine," stately as the hemlock," are favorite comparisons with our aboriginals. 66 That hemlock is on the old Hopper farm. and was a favorite spot with Washington; his camp was pitched under its branches during Dame Hopper was, in that day, a handsome young woman of twenty, and a favorite with the General. She still lives, with her descendants about her-five generations under one roof. Ah! children and grandchildren, to the third and fourth generations, are a heritage of the Lord, and reward those who lead a godly life." The old man was thinking proudly of his own heritage. "Madam Hopper kept open hospitality in that day, and the General was always a welcome guest. She preserves one room just as it was the last time the General occupied it. There are the chairs, the table, the pictures, painted on glass, of the Prince of Orange and Mary of England, his wife, religiously preserved. Old spoons of silver, of ancient and massive make, brought from Holland, are in the room, because Washington had made use of them. The bedstead is the same on which he slept, and no form has since that day been stretched upon it. The sheets and pillowcases are all sacredly kept, unprofaned by other use." "Truly, this Dame Hopper is a goodly dame," I replied. "She is a woman of the olden time," he answered, with a significant glance, meant to convey a volume of rebuke to us of to-day. "The Ramapo Valley is holy land to the patriot," continued the old man. "Its legends and its history had much of interest even before the War of Independence; and at that period every stage of the struggle was marked by some striking event in the valley. You see this old house on this little plateau, where the river winds around the rocky point. There transpired one of the atrocities of the Cowboys. I will show you more of them anon." We seated ourselves upon a stone, while he gave utterance to what follows: "Claudius Smith was a brave, handsome man, but devoid of all principle. He had been for a long time leader of the Cowboys; and though it may be presumed he would not himself wantonly imbrue his hands in innocent blood, still he was responsible for the atrocities of his accomplices, whose depredations were carried on under his own eyes. Smith was in a habit of entering houses at mid-day, when the men of the household were at work upon their farms, and having surrounded the dwelling, and secured the women from any power of giving the alarm, by threats, and even by gagging them, he and his followers carried away provisions, clothing and silver, |