356 The Zoologist — September, 1860. 



" Behold his eye, 

 As bright as is the eagle's, lightens forth 

 Controlling majesty." 



Richard II. Act iii. Scene 3. 



" Nay, if thou be that princely eagle's bird, 

 Show thy descent by gazing 'gainst the sun." 



Henry VI. Part III. Act ii. Scene 1. 



The opinion that the eagle possessed the power of gazing undazzled 

 al the sun is of great antiquit}'. Pliny relates that it exposes its brood 

 to this test as soon as hatched, to prove if they be genuine or not. 

 Chaucer refers to the belief in the ' Assetnblie of Foules,' — 



"There mighten men the royal egnl find, 

 That with his sharp look persith the sonne." 



So also Spenser, in his ' Hymn of Heavenly Beauty,' — 



" And, like the native brood oi eagle's kind, 

 Ou that bright sun of glory fix their eyes." 



And in ' Romeo and Juliet' (Act iii. Scene 5) we read, 



" An eagle, madam. 

 Hath not so green, so quick, so fair an eye. 

 As Paris halh." 



There is a slight mistake, however, in supposing the eye of the 

 eagle green. In the golden eagle the iridos are hazel, in the spotted 

 eagle also hazel, and in the whitelailed eagle yellow. 



The power of flight in this bird is no less wonderful than that of 

 vision, and eagles have been killed measuring seven and eight feet 

 from tip to tip of wing, and strong enough to carry off hares, lambs, 

 and even young children. Shakesi^eare was no doubt aware of this 

 when he wrote, 



" This was but as a fly by an eagle." 



Antony and Cleopatra, Act ii. Scene 2. 

 And 



" An eagle flight, bold and forth on, 

 Leaving no track behind." 



Timon of Athens, Act i. Scene 1. 



Nevertheless we are reminded that the eagle, notwithstanding his 

 great powers of flight, is not always secure, — 



