FABLE AND FOLKLORE 151 



(The Three Lucky Things) the mountain symbolizes the 

 beauty of nature, the falcon the delights of the chase, 

 and the eggplant the wisdom of frugality and of the 

 simplicity of life. This undaunted bird (talca, the heroic 

 one) is to the Japanese the symbol of victory; and the 

 Medal of Victory, which the government confers upon 

 distinguished warriors has emblazoned upon it a golden 

 falcon, in commemoration of the coming to Japan of its 

 mythical ancestor, Jimmu Tenno; for it is related that 

 as he set foot up on the Island's shore, a falcon flew 

 toward him and lit on his bow, an incident which has ever 

 been regarded as prophetic of the success of his under- 

 taking. 



Little can be added in this connection concerning the 

 birds of prey. In ancient Egypt the vulture represented 

 Nekht, the tutelary deity of the South, who appeared to 

 men in that form; and the protection she accorded to 

 the queens of Egypt was indicated by the vulture-head- 

 dress worn by these ladies at least during the Empire. 

 The kite, too, is connected with early Egyptian history, 

 according to a tradition, preserved by Diodorus Siculus, 

 that the book of religious laws and customs was origi- 

 nally brought to Thebes by a kite ; wherefore the sacred 

 scribes wore a red cap with a kite's feather in it. 



The cock in Christian religious art is to be interpreted 

 as an emblem of vigilance — also as an image of preachers, 

 in which may be a touch of humor. "When introduced 

 near the figure of St. Peter," says one authority, "it ex- 

 presses repentance; in this connection it is one of the 

 emblems of the Passion. ,, The placing of the image of 

 a cock on church towers is said to be an allusion to Peter 

 as the head of the Church on earth, and as representing 

 the voice of the Church, which by day and in the watches 



