On Animals depicted on Antique Monuments, 283 



this species t)f luxury had reached, among all those whose object 

 it was to purchase minions, or to procure friends. 



The luxury which led the Romans to collect so many fish in 

 their ponds, directed them also to assemble an immense number 

 of different birds in their yards and aviaries. These aviaries were 

 at a later period used for the rearing of the peacocks which Alex- 

 ander had imported from Greece, where they were merely con- 

 sidered as an object of curiosity on account of the beauty of 

 their plumage. Hortensius, however, judged differently, and he 

 ordered several of them to be served up in a splendid banquet, 

 which he gave to his friends. From this time peacocks multi- 

 plied prodigiously in Rome; and Ptolemy Phocion was as- 

 tonished with the number he saw there. This number became 

 latterly so great, that, if we may believe the ancient authors, An- 

 tidius Lucero made an income of nearly L. 600 by feeding this 

 beautiful bird. 



Nor should we be surprised at this, at all events, if we were 

 to judge of it by the immense quantity of figures of this bird 

 which the ancients have left us. Nor are there fewer of a great 

 many others, among which it will suffice to specify the different 

 species of cranes, storks, herons, parrots, titmice ; of eagles, 

 vultures, hawks, owls, and ducks. Many of these birds are re- 

 presented with extraordinary perfection. In proof of this, we 

 particularize the bas-relief copied in the sixth plate of the work 

 of M. D'Agincourt*, which represents the eagle of Jupiter car- 

 rying Ganymede away, and being conscious, as the bas-relief 

 itself expresses it, of what he carried, and for whom (Sentiens 

 quid rapiat et cut Jerat). In accuracy and truth it is really 

 admirable, and allied to a sublimity which it is easier to feel than 

 to define. 



As the number of birds here referred to is very considerable, 

 we will not endeavour at present to describe them, intending to 

 return to the subject at a subsequent time. And what we have 

 said on birds, we might state with equal safety of fishes and 

 reptiles. These, and especially the latter, are usually very ac- 

 curately represented ; and to be known, they only require con^ 

 tinued attention, and a sufficient number of objects of compari- 



• Recueil de Fragmens de Sculpture en terre cuite. Par S. d'Agincourt. 

 Paris, 1814. 



