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imagery and fable. Its nest was said to 
resemble those concretions that are formed 
by the sea-water, and to be fashioned like 
a long-necked gourd; that the entrance 
was very narrow, so that, should it overset, 
the water could not enter; that it resisted 
any violence from iron, but could be 
broken with a blow from the hand; and 
that it was composed of the bones of 
fishes. On this foundation other writers 
added tales equally as absurd; and poets 
indulging the powers of imagination, 
dressed them in all the robes of romance. 
The nest of the bird was made to float 
upon the placid face of the ocean ; iEolus 
bound up his winds; Alcyone, his plain- 
tive solitary daughter, still called on the 
billows to restore her hapless Ceyx, 
whom Neptune had drowned, &c. This 
kind suspension of the horrors of the 
season, this happy interval of calm, was 
granted to the Alcyon to breed her young, 
they were therefore called Alcyon days, 
during which period the mariner might 
sail in full security. The hardy sailors of 
the present day do not, however, find 
