The Cachalot or Spermaceti Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) is found in the northern seas.

is provided with a most formidable weapon on the left side of the jaw. This is perfectly straight, and as thick as the small of a man's leg; it is whiter and harder than ivory. This whale, however, is perfectly peaceful and harmless, and is generally seen in herds. The Greenland whale fishery has much declined of late, the fishermen having been more successful in the southern Atlantic Ocean, and the Pacific.

Seals. The Common Seal frequents the seacoast perhaps throughout the world, but is most numerous in high northern latitudes, and is of the greatest use to the Esquimaux and other inhabitants of those frigid regions, furnishing them with all the necessaries of life. It feeds on fish, crabs, and birds. These creatures are taken in immense numbers by the Esquimaux and by sealers who go out for the purpose. The Hooded Seal is found on the shores of Greenland, Davis's Straits, and sometimes of Newfoundland. It is distinguished by a singular appendage which it has on the head, formed by an extension of the skin, and elevated or depressed at the pleasure of the animal. It is not determined of what use this hood may be. The Great Seal resembles the common seal in habits and general appearance, but may be distinguished from it by its great size and large, beard-like whiskers. It is very timid and watchful, and difficult of approach. The Harp Seal frequents deep bays, and the shores of Newfoundland. It is seen in large herds, and is very frolicsome. It yields a greater proportion of pure oil than is obtained from any other seal. The Esquimaux make great use of its skin. The Fetid Seal frequents fixed ice, and never relinquishes its old haunts. It is very solitary, and not at all timid. The Ursine Seal is found upon the shores of the islands between America and Kamschatka in vast herds. They are very indolent and seldom move from their station on land, but they swim with great rapidity, and remain under water for a great length of time.

11. Birds. In the following sketch of the birds of North America, only some of the most characteristic animals of this order can be mentioned.

The Bald Eagle (Falco leucocephalus) is common along the coast, and particularly frequents the borders of the great lakes. Wilson thus describes it.

This distinguished bird has been long known to naturalists, being common to both continents, and occasionally met with from a very high northern latitude to the borders of the torrid zone, but chiefly in the vicinity of the sea, and along the shores and cliffs of our lakes and large rivers. Formed by nature for bearing the severest cold; feeding equally upon the produce of the sea and the land; possessing powers of flight capable of outstripping even the tempests themselves; unawed by any thing but man; and from the ethereal height to which he soars, looking abroad, at one glance, on an immeasurable expanse of forests, fields, lakes, and ocean, deep below him, he appears indifferent to the change of seasons; as in a few moments, he can pass from summer to winter, from the lower to the higher regions of the atmosphere, the abode of eternal

The Bald Eagle.

cold; and thence descend at will to the torrid or the arctic regions. He is therefore found at all seasons in the countries he inhabits, but prefers such places as have been mentioned above, for the great partiality he has for fish.

"In procuring these, he displays, in a very singular manner, the genius and energy of his character, which is fierce, contemplative, daring, and tyrannical; attributes not exerted but on particular occasions, but when put forth, overpowering all opposition. Elevated on the high, dead limb of some gigantic tree, that commands a wide view of the neighboring shore and ocean, he seems calmly to contemplate the motions of the various feathered tribes that pursue their busy avocation below; the snow-white gulls slowly winnowing the air; the busy tringa coursing along the sands; trains of ducks streaming over the surface; cranes silent and watchful, intent and wading; clamorous crows, and all the winged multitudes that subsist by the bounty of this vast magazine of nature.

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High over all these, hovers one, whose action arrests all his attention. By his wide curvature of wing, and sudden suspension in the air, he knows him to be the fish-hawk (osprey, F. haliatus,) settling over some devoted victim of the deep. His eye kindles at the sight, and balancing himself with half opened wings, on the branch, he waits the result. Down, rapid as an arrow from heaven, descends the distant object of his attention, the roar of its wings reaching the ear as it disappears in the deep, making the surges foam around. At this moment, the looks of the eagle are all ardor, and, leveling his neck for flight, he sees the fish-hawk once more emerge struggling with his prey, and mounting in the air with screams of exultation. These are the signals for our hero, who, launching into the air, instantly gives chase, and soon gains on the fish-hawk, while each exerts himself to the utmost to mount above the other, displaying in these rencontres the most elegant and sublime evolutions. The unincumbered eagle

Washington Eagle.

The Sparrow Hawk.

rapidly advances, and is just on the point of reaching his opponent, when, with a sudden scream, probably of despair and honest execration, he drops the fish. The eagle, poising himself for a moment, as if to take a more certain aim, descends like a whirlwind, snatches it in his grasp ere it reaches the water, and bears his ill-gotten booty silently away to the woods." The Sea Eagle (F. ossifragus) is also common in the Middle States, as in other parts of the country. In his habits, he resembles the Bald Eagle.

The Washington Eagle (F. Washingtonianus) is seldom or never seen except in the Western States. It resembles pretty nearly the great sea-eagle described by Wilson, and well known by naturalists in Europe and America. The male bird weighs 14 pounds, and measures 3 feet and 7 inches in length, and 10 feet and 2 inches in extent. The Condor is found among the Rocky Mountains, but it will be more appropriately described under South America, as the Andes seem to be its peculiar home.

. The Sparrow Hawk (F. sparverius) is found in various parts of the United States. It builds its nest in a hollow tree, pretty high up, where a large limb has been broken off. The habits and manners of this bird are well known. It flies rather irregularly. It perches on the top of a dead tree or pole in the middle of a field; and sits there in an almost perpendicular position sometimes for an hour at a time, frequently jerking its tail, and reconnoitring the ground below, in every direction, for mice and lizards, &c. It approaches the farm house particularly in the morning, skulking about the barn yard for mice or young chickens. It frequently plunges into a thicket after small birds, as if at random, but always with a particular and generally a fatal aim. Though small snakes, mice and lizards be favorite morsels with this active bird, yet we are not to suppose it altogether destitute of delicacy in feeding. It will seldom

or never eat of anything that it has not itself killed; and even that, if not in good eating order, is sometimes rejected.

The Swallow-tailed Hawk (F. furcatus) is a very elegant species, which inhabits the south

The Peregrine Falcon.

ern districts of the United States in summer. It is very abundant in South Carolina and Georgia, and still more so in West Florida, and the extensive prairies of Ohio and Indiana. They feed on locusts and on a species of lizard which is very numerous in that part of the country, and are said also to devour small green snakes. The flight of this bird is easy and graceful, with sometimes occasional sweeps among the trees.

The Peregrine Falcon (F. peregrinus), which is known on our coast by the name of duck-hawk, is identical with the gyr-falcon, or peregrine falcon of Europe. It is not a numerous species, but is seen occasionally in New England and the Middle States. It is the same that was formerly used by the nobility of England in falconry, and was, by way of eminence, called the falcon. It is one of the most fierce and powerful of birds, and is said to sacrifice even wild geese to its rapacity. It is described as darting with the rapidity of an arrow upon its prey; it will often attack the wild duck when on the wing, and strike it down with its formidable feet, permitting the duck to fall previously to securing it. It is said to follow the steps of the sportsman, knowing that the ducks will nest in the gloomy recesses of cedar forests, Its screams somewhat resemble those of

The Black Vulture (Cathartes iota) has sometimes been confounded with the turkey buzzard; but they are much darker in their plumage than the latter, and do not even associate with them. Their mode of flight also differs from that of the turkey buzzard; the latter, though found in the vicinity of towns, rarely ventures within them; it is not so impatient of cold as the former, and is likewise .ess lazy. In the towns and villages of the south, the black vultures may frequently be seen sauntering about the streets, sunning themselves on the roofs of the houses, and the fences; or, if the weather be cold, cowering around the tops of the chimneys, to enjoy the benefit of the heat, which to them is a peculiar gratification. They are protected by law or usage; and may be said to be completely domesticated, being as common as the domestic poultry, and equally familiar. The inhabitants generally are disgusted with their filthy habits; but notwithstanding, being viewed as contributing to the removal of the dead animal matter, which, if permitted to putrefy during the hot season, would render the atmosphere impure, they have a respect paid them as scavengers, whose labors are subservient to the public good.

The Turkey Buzzard (C. aura) is found in vast flocks in the southern parts of the United States, where it is of great utility in destroying snakes and vermin, and in devouring the dead and putrid carcasses. This bird is about the size of a turkey; the head and neck are bare of feathers, and of a reddish color, and the sides of the head warted like those of the turkey; the whole plumage is a brownish black, with a purple and greenish gloss in different directions.

The turkey buzzards are gregarious, peaceable, and harmless; never offering any violence to a living animal, nor depriving the husbandman of his stock. Hence, though in consequence of their filthy habits they are not beloved, yet they are respected for their usefulness,

and, in the Southern States, where they are most needed, they, as well as the black vultures, are protected by a law, which imposes a fine on those who wilfully deprive them of life. They generally roost in flocks, on the limbs of large trees; and they may be seen on a summer's morning, spreading out their wings to the rising sun, and remaining in that posture for a considerable time.

Black Vulture.

Turkey Buzzard.

The sense of smell in the turkey buzzard is astonishingly exquisite, and they never fail to discover carrion, even when at the distance of several miles. When once they have found a carcass, if not molested, they will remain in the place till the whole is devoured. At such times, they eat so immoderately, that frequently they are incapable of rising, and may be caught without difficulty; but few that are acquainted with them, will have the temerity to undertake the task. A man in Delaware, some years since, observing some turkey buzzards regaling themselves upon the carcass of a horse, which was in a highly putrid state, conceived the design of making a captive of one, to take home for the amusement of his children. He cautiously approached, and springing upon the unsuspecting group, grasped a fine plump fellow in his arms, and was bearing off his prize in triumph; when lo! the indignant vulture disgorged such a torrent of filth in the face of our hero, that it produced all the effects of the most powerful emetic, and forever cured him of his inclination for turkey buzzards.

The favorite residence of the Great Horned Owl (Strix Virginiana) is in the dark solitudes of deep swamps covered with a growth of gigantic timber; and here, as soon as evening draws on, and mankind retire to rest, he sends forth such sounds as seem scarcely to belong to this

Great Horned Owl.

world. "Along the mountainous shores of the Ohio," says Wilson," and amidst the deep forests of Indiana, alone and reposing in the woods, this ghostly watchman has frequently warned me of the approach of morning, and amused me by his singular exclamations; sometimes sweeping down and around my fire, uttering a sudden Waugh O! Waugh O! sufficient to have alarmed a whole garrison. He has other nocturnal solos, no less melodious, one of which very strikingly resembles the half suppressed screams of a person suffocated or throttled, and cannot fail of being exceedingly entertaining to a lonely benighted traveller, in the midst of an Indian wilderness."

This species inhabits the country round Hudson's Bay; and according to Pennant, who considers it a mere variety of the Eagle Owl of Europe, is found in Kamtschatka, and

extends even to the Arctic regions, where it is found white, and occurs as low as Astrachan.

It has also been seen white in the United States. It preys on young rabbits, squirrels, rats, mice, partridges, and small birds of various kinds. It has been often known to prowl about a farm house, and carry off chickens from the roost. The great horned owl is not migratory, but remains with us the whole year. He is very rarely seen abroad by day, and never but when disturbed. The nest is generally placed in the fork of a tall tree; it is constructed of sticks piled in considerable quantities, and lined with dry leaves and a few feathers. The female lays four white eggs, nearly as large as those of a hen.

Mr. Audubon gives the following amusing description of the Barred Owl (S. Nebulosa), which is very abundant in Louisiana. "How often when snugly settled under the boughs of my temporary encampment, and preparing to roast a venison steak or the body of a squirrel, on a wooden spit, have I been saluted with the exulting bursts of this nightly disturber of the peace, that, had it not been for him, would have prevailed around me, as well as in my lonely retreat! How often have I seen this nocturnal marauder alight within a few yards of me, exposing his whole body to the glare of my fire, and eye me in such a curious manner, that had it been reasonable to do so, I would have invited him to walk in and join me in my repast, that I might have enjoyed the pleasure of forming a better acquaintance with him. The liveliness of his motions, joined to their oddness, have often made me think, that his society would be at least as agreeable as that of many of the buffoons we meet with in the world."

The Screech Owl, though found in the Southern States, is very rare there. Mr. Flint says of the owls, "we have noted a great many varieties of this bird. Their hooting and screaming, in every variety of tone and sound, often imitating the cry of human distress or laughter, and sometimes the shrieks of a babe, are heard all over this valley, in the deep forests and bottoms. We have heard forty at a time in the lower courses of the Mississippi."

The Meadow Lark (Alauda magna) frequents pastures, fields, and meadows, where it finds

Meadoro Lark.

an abundant supply of seeds and insects. It generally alights on trees or bushes at the tops of the branches, where it sends forth a long, clear, and melancholy note, that in sweetness and tenderness of expression is not equalled by any of our warblers. The nest is built in a thick tuft of grass, and is composed of dry grass, laid with great regularity. It is rarely or never seen in the depths of the woods. In Virginia, this bird is called the Old-Field Lark.

The Baltimore Oriole (Icterus Baltimore) derives its name from its colors; being black and orange, which are those of the livery of Lord Baltimore. In the formation of his nest he dis

plays superior skill, and is so solicitous to procure proper materials, that he will often carry off thread that is bleaching, the farmer's young grafts and the strings that tie them, to serve his purposes in building. His food consists of bugs, caterpillars, and beetles, and his song, which is wild and playful, is a clear, mellow whistle, which he repeats at intervals. He is honored with a variety of names, such as hang-nest, hanging-bird, golden robbin, firebird, &c.

The Redwinged Oriole, or Black Bird (I. phaniceus), is known by a variety of names, as the swamp blackbird, corn or maize thief, marsh blackbird, &c. They are migratory in the Northern States, but are found during the winter in the Middle and Southern States, in immense numbers, where the profuse gleanings of the rice, corn, and buckwheat fields supply them with abundant food. With this harmless plunder they are not satisfied, but find great satisfaction in eating the young and tender corn, at which time they make great havoc. Thev build their nests in swampy places, of reeds and

Baltimore Oriole.