Page:The Grammar of Heraldry, Cussans, 1866.djvu/44

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30
Heraldry

ing another is described as vorant. When two animals are face to face, they are respecting each other. An animal wounded is vulmed; if smoke be issuing from the mouth and ears, it is incensed.

Birds

The Eagle, in heraldry, holds supremacy amongst birds, as the Lion does, amongst animals. The most common position assigned to the eagle is displayed, Fig. 116. This appellation is peculiar to birds of prey; other birds (such as the dove), when their wings are extended as in the accompanying example, are said to be disclosed.

The student must bear in mind the difference between an eagle displayed, and an eagle with wings displayed; when the latter term is employed, the bird is supposed to be perched. The eagles of ancient Rome, France, and the United States would be blazoned as with wings displayed; those of Russia, Austria, and Prussia, as displayed.

A bird of prey is said to be armed of its beak and claws; but other birds are beaked and membered. The same law which governs the tinctures of the arms and tongues of lions, mentioned at page 29, is observed with regard to the claws and beaks of eagles.

Small eagles, charged as lioncels, are styled eaglets.

When Hawks are represented with bells on their feet, they are described as belled; and when the jesses, or straps with which the bells were attached, are hanging loose, they are belled and jessed. They