30 
THE ENSIGN OF THE EAGLE. 
cording to Mr. G. Dennis, in his “ Handbook of Sicily,” 
(p. 349); and he mentions this ensign as “ a Roman 
legionary eagle in excellent preservation.” 
From the second century before Christ, the eagle is said 
to have become the sole military ensign, and it was mostly 
small in size, because Florus (lib. 4, cap. 12) relates that 
an ensign-bearer, in the wars of Julius Caesar, in order to 
prevent the enemy from taking it, pulled off the eagle 
from the top of the gilt pole, and hid it by placing it 
under cover of his belt. 
In later times, the eagle was borne with the legion, 
which, indeed, occasionally took its name, “ aquila!' This 
eagle, which was also adopted by the Roman emperors 
for their imperial symbol, is considered to be the Aquila 
heliaca of Savigny (imperialis of Temminck), and resembles 
our golden eagle, Aquila chrysae/os, in plumage, though 
of a darker brown, and with more or less white on the 
scapulars. It differs also in the structure of the foot. It 
inhabits Southern Europe, North Africa, Palestine, and 
India. Living examples of this species may be seen at 
the present time in the Gardens of the Zoological Society. 
Sicilius, in Cymbeline \Act v. Sc. 4), speaking of the 
apparition and descent of Jupiter, who was seated upon 
an eagle, says,— 
“ The holy eagle 
Stoop’d, as to foot us: his ascension is 
More sweet than our blest fields : his royal bird 
