THE EAGLES 65 



them no more, and the four specks were lost to view in 

 the shining distance. 



Marvellous must the eye of an Eagle be to gaze, as it 

 does, unblinded and unblinking on the midday sun in his 

 glory. Our forefathers wondered at this, as we do to-day. 

 Indeed, they had strange stories to tell which were more 

 quaint than true. Here is one curious fancy which I find 

 written in a book of monkish lore, put together in the 

 early years of the Middle Ages : — 



"There is one manner [kind of] Eagle that is full 

 sharp of sight, and die taketh her own birds in her claws, 

 and maketh them to look even on the sun, and that ere 

 their wings be full grown, and except [unless] they look 

 stiffly and steadfastly against the sun, she beateth them, 

 and setteth them even tofore the sun. And if any eye of 

 any of her birds watereth in looking on the sun, she 

 slayeth^ him, or else driveth him out of the nest and 

 despiseth him." 



Another strange and ancient belief was that the Eagle, 

 when he was old, renewed his strength and his failing 

 eyesight in the following manner : Guided by instinct, 

 he sought far and wide for " a well of springing water." 

 Having found one, he soared up into the air towards the 

 sun, and when his body had grown heated with the sun- 

 warmth and the great exertion, he closed his wings and 

 let himself fall into the water. The sudden shock of the 

 cold plunge-bath wrought a wondrous transformation. 

 The old feathers fell away, new plumage began to grow, 

 the dimness of sight passed, and with great, strong wing- 

 beats the bird rose again into the air, young and vigorous 

 once more. 



Another version of this fable made him drop into the 

 sea. This was believed, or half believed, even as late as 

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