BooKX.] History of Nature. 191 



Vultures ; and they again the greater, which propagate 

 none whatever. Some add a Kind of Eagle which they call 

 Barbatae, and the Tuscans Ossifragae. 



But the three first and the fifth Kind of Eagles have in 

 their Nest a Stone named JEetites, 1 which some call Gagates ; 

 of extensive use as a Medicine, and suffering no Injury from 

 Fire. Now this Stone is also pregnant ; for if it is shaken, 

 another is heard to rattle within, as if it were in its Womb. 

 But that medical Virtue is not in these Stones if they are not 

 taken away out of the very Nest. They make their Nests in 

 Rocks and upon Trees : they lay three Eggs, but two only 

 are hatched : but sometimes they have been seen to have 

 three young ones. But one of them they turn out of the 

 Nest, because they will not be troubled with feeding it. And 

 truly Nature hath well provided that at such a Time they 

 shall not be able to provide Meat ; for otherwise they were 

 enough to destroy'all the Young of the wild Beasts. Also at 

 this Time their Talons are bent inward; and through Hunger 

 their Feathers grow white, so that they have good Cause to 

 hate their Young. But when they have cast them off, the 

 Ossifrages, which are near of Kin to them, receive them and 

 bring them up with their own Birds. But the parent Eagles 

 persecute them still when they are full grown, and drive 

 them a great Way off, as being their Rivals in the Prey. 

 And were it not so, one pair of Eagles needeth a large Ex- 

 tent of Country to furnish them with sufficient Food. They 

 have, therefore, their several Coasts for Prey, and do not 

 trespass on those of a neighbouring pair. When they have 

 seized a Prey, they do not carry it away presently, but first 

 lay it down, and try the Weight before they fly off with it. 

 They do not die for Age or Sickness, but of Famine, by rea- 

 son that the upper Beak of their Bill so far overgrows in- 

 ward, that the Crookedness does not permit them to open it. 2 



1 B. xxx. ch. xiv. ; B. xxxvi. ch. xxi. ; B. xxxvii. ch. xi. Wern. Club. 



2 But this remarkable growth of the hook of the beak in time exfo- 

 liates ; when the bird becomes capable of feeding, and again gathers 

 health and strength. To this reference is made, Psalm ciii. 5. Wern. 

 Club. 



