192 History of Nature. [BooK X. 



Their Manner is to go to their Business and to fly after 

 Noon-day. For all the former Hours of the Day they sit 

 idle, waiting until Men are got together about their Markets 

 in the Towns. The Feathers of Eagles laid among those of 

 other Fowls will consume them. It is said that the Eagle 

 only is never smitten with Lightning ; and therefore it is 

 judged that she serveth Jupiter as his Armour-bearer. 



CHAPTER IV. 



When Eagles began to be the Standards of the Legions ; and 

 what Fowls they are that have War with Eagles. 



CAIUS MARIUS, 



in his second 



Consulship, 



ordained 



that the 



Roman 



Legions should only have the Eagle for their 



Standard. For before that Time the Eagle marched 



foremost, with four others : Wolves, Minotaurs, Horses 



and Boars; each one in its proper Order. Not many 



Years past the Eagle alone began to be advanced in the 



Battle; and the Rest were left behind in the Camp. But 



Marius rejected them altogether. And since this it is 



observed that scarcely is there a Camp of a Legion wintered 



at any Time, without having a pair of Eagles. 



Of Eagles, the first and second Kind do not prey only 

 upon the lesser Quadrupeds, but also maintain Battle with 

 Deer. She walloweth in the Dust and gathereth a great 

 deal of it among her Feathers, and then settling upon the 

 Horns she shakes it off into his Eyes, flapping it about his 

 Face with her Wings, until she drive him down over the 

 Rocks. Nor is one Enemy enough for the Eagle ; but her 

 Fight with the Dragon is more sharp and much more dan- 

 gerous, although it is in the Air. The Dragon, out of a 

 greedy Desire to do Mischief, watcheth to destroy the Eggs 

 of the Eagle ; but the Eagle again for this, wherever she 



Insignia Draconarius. Montfaucon, pi. iii. torn. iv. 



