FOREWORD 



by transforming wrongdoers into birds and animals as a 

 N^miishment for their crimes. 



f In all lands birds were invested with the power of proph- 

 ecyN Tney were believed to possess superior intelligence 

 through being twice bom, once as an egg and again as an 

 animal. Because of their wisdom, not only they, but their 

 graven images also, were consulted on all the important 

 affairs of life. 



■"^^^^^ The chief birds of portent were the owl, the raven and 

 the woodpecker, though there were a number of others on 

 the prophetic list. It will be remembered that Coleridge 

 made the omen of a bird the leading motive of his poem. 

 'Many nations, notably the Japanese, are still believers in 

 the direct communication between man and imseen beings, 

 through birds and other agents. In Japan birds are re- 

 garded as sacred, and for this reason the agriculturist gladly 

 shares with them the fruit of his toil. 



^ -^^_JW^^^^^ ^^ ^^ to-day attach no supernatural significances 

 to the presence of these feathered creatures, and even though \ V 

 to us they possess no powers of prophecy, we can find a great J V 

 deal of pleasure in observing these beings whose boding cries/ \\J 

 were regarded as omens by the greatest of earth-beings, whose ^, 

 actions in Vespasian's time were considered of vital national 1 

 importance. An eagle perching on his tent proved to the / 

 people that beyond a doubt a true Judean ruler had been/ 

 found. / 



Aside from their historic and literary interest these mul- 

 titudinous and often contradictory legends and superstitions 

 are of interest to us as a part of the faith of our fathers, 

 much of which, combined with other and higher things, is 

 in us yet. These beliefs of theirs, like many of what we are 



