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CHAP. 56. (55.)—OBJECTS. WHICH ARE NEVER STRUCK.

Among the productions of the earth, thunder never strikes the laurel1, nor does it descend more than five feet into the earth. Those, therefore, who are timid consider the deepest caves as the most safe; or tents made of the skins of the animal called the sea-calf, since this is the only marine animal which is never struck2; as is the case, among birds, with the eagle; on this account it is represented as the bearer of this weapon3. In Italy, between Terracina and the temple of Feronia, the people have left off building towers in time of war, every one of them having been destroyed by thunderbolts.

1 Although it has been thought necessary by M. Fée, in the notes to Ajasson's trans., ii. 384, 385, to enter into a formal examination of this opinion of the author's, I conceive that few of our readers will agree with him in this respect.

2 Suetonius informs us, that Augustus always wore a seal's skin for this purpose; Octavius, § 90.

3 The eagle was represented by the ancients with a thunderbolt in its claws.

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