B. IX.] THE HISTOET OF ANIMALS 251 



and in the vicinity of towns. Some persons call it nebro- 

 phonus. It is a courageous bird, and flies to mountains, and 

 woods also. The other kinds rarely appear in plains and 

 groves. There is another kind of eagle called plangus, the 

 second in point of size and strength, which lives among 

 thickets, and valleys, and marshes. It is called nettophonus 

 and morphnus. Of this kind Homer speaks at the departure 

 of Priam. 



2. There is another kind, which is black. It is smaller, 

 and stronger than the others. It inhabits mountains and 

 woods. It is called melanseetus, and lagophonus. This is 

 the only one that rears and educates its young. It is swift, 

 elegant, liberal, fearless, warlike, and of a good omen, for it 

 neither cries nor screams. There is another kind with spotted 

 wings. It has a white head, and is the largest of all eagles. 

 Its wings are short, and its rump very long, like the vulture ; 

 it is called oreipelargus, and hypseetus. It inhabits groves. 

 It has all the faults of the rest, and none of their good 

 qualities ; for it is taken and pursued by ravens and other 

 birds. It is a heavy bird, and its mode of life is bad. It 

 carries about dead creatures; it is always hungry, and 

 screams and cries. 



3. There is another kind of eagle called sea eagle, which 

 has a long and thick neck, curved wings, and a wide rump. 

 It inhabits the sea and the coast. When they have seized 

 their prey, and cannot carry it away, they are borne down 

 into the sea. There is, again, another kind of eagle, called 

 true eagle. They say that these alone of all other birds are 

 true, for the other kinds are mixed and crossed with each 

 other, both eagles, hawks, and other smaller kinds. This 

 is the largest of all the eagles, greater than the phene ; one 

 and a half times as large as other eagles, and of a red colour : 

 it is seldom seen, like that called cymindis. 



4. The time for the activity of the eagle, and for its flight, 

 is from dinner till the evening, for it sits aloft till the time 

 when the market-place begins to fill. "When eagles grow old, 

 their beaks become more and more curved, so that at last they 

 die of famine. The story goes, that the eagle was once a man, 

 and suffers this as a punishment for inhospitality to a guest. 

 Any superabundant food is put aside for their young in their 

 nests, for it is not easy for them to procure it every day, and 

 sometimes they have no place from whence to bring it. 



