The Emblematic Eagle

The Etruscans rere the first who adopted the eagle ña the symbol of royal power, and bore its image as a standard at the head of their armies. From the time of Marius it was the principal emblem of tto Koman Bepublio, and the only standard of the legions. It was representad with outspread wings, and usually of süver, till the time of Hadrian who made it of gold. The double-headed eagle was in use amng the Byzaütine emperors, to indícate, it is said, their claim to the empire both of the East and "West ; it was adopted in the fonrteenth century by the Germán emperors, and afterwards appeared on the arms f Russia. The arras of Bussiaare distinguished by the black eagle, and those of Poland bore the white. The white-headed eagle is the emblematic device of the United States of America, in the badge of the order of the Cmcinnati, and n figured on coins. Napoleon adopted the eagle for the emblem of imperial France ; it was not, however, represented in heraldic style, but in its natural form, with the thunder-bolbs of Júpiter. It was disused under the Bourbons, but was restored by a decree of Louis Napoleon (January 1, 1852).