CHAP. XIV. COCKS. — PIGEONS. 215 



and, were it not for the absence of all proof of it in 

 the sculptures, we might believe that the assertion 

 ofProclus respecting the cock applies to the re- 

 ligion of Egypt. That author says it held a rank 

 among " solar animals, because it appears to ap- 

 plaud the Sun at its rising, and partakes like the 

 lion of the solar influence. For though so inferior 

 in size and strength, the cock is said to be feared 

 by the lion, and almost revered by it, the virtue of 

 the Sun being more suited to the former than to 

 the latter : and daemons with a lion's head, when 

 the cock is presented to them, are known instantly 

 to vanish." 



This notion of the lion and cock being analogous 

 emblems, and the latter possessing power to con- 

 tend with his powerful competitor, probably led to 

 the design engraved by a Roman artist on a stone 

 I found in the Fyoom, representing a lion and 

 cock fighting, whilst a rat carries off the bone of 

 contention. This, besides the obvious moral it con- 

 veys, shows that the two animals were chosen as 

 the types of strength or courage. It also recalls 

 the assertion of Pliny *, that " cocks are a terror 

 to lions, the most generous of animals." 



Pigeons are not generally represented in the 

 sculptures ; but an instance occurs of their intro- 

 duction at the coronation ceremony, which is par- 

 ticularly interesting, as it shows the early custom 

 of training carrier pigeons, and adds one more con- 

 firmation of the truth of Solomon's remark, "there 

 is no new thing under the sun." The king is there 



* Plin. lib. X. C.21. 



p 4 



