xxx TAILS AND WINGS AS NUPTIAL LIVERY 379 



phrase and fable from the earliest dawn of civilisation. 

 The hawk and ibis were worshipped by the ancient 

 Egyptians, and in Christian worship some birds are 

 symbols of the highest qualities of human nature. The 

 dove is the symbol of the Holy Spirit and the human 

 soul, as well as for tenderness and conjugal love. A 

 pair of turtle doves yoked to the chariot of Venus 

 conveyed the goddess of love through the skies. 



The Eagle, King of Birds, was used as an emblem of 

 empire by the Babylonians, Persians and French, and as 

 an omen of Victory by the Greeks and Romans. As 

 the emblem of St. John it serves, with outstretched 

 wings, as a lectern in many thousand Christian churches. 

 Birds find a place in our literature, whether it concerns 

 Religion, Art, Poetry, Fables, Caricature, Comedy, or 

 Tragedy. Their names are so incorporated in our 

 language that at least a hundred are used as surnames 

 by the people, such as crow, rook, jay, raven, hawk, 

 buzzard, gull and finch, with several prefixes, such as 

 gold, green, &c. The robin is so popular that its name 

 is common as a Christian name as well as a surname. 

 .Many martins, ->\vifts, swans and drakes will be found 

 even in a Court Guide. 



Now we are beginning to learn something of the 

 language and social customs of the natives of Eastern 

 Ethiopia, it is clear that beasts and birds have a place 

 in their superstitions. 



Hollis has reduced to writing some instances from the 

 folk-lore of the warlike and savage Nandi. 



To them the francolin calls to the hyaena in the 

 morning : 



Hide in the wood. 



The lion growling says : 

 The owner of a cooking-pot is lucky, he can cook his meat. 



There is a small bird which builds a nest in the 

 ground. To anyone going near the nest it cries : 



Don't tread on niy head. 



