. Symbolism of animals and birds represented in English church architecture . CHAPTER III THE FOX, THE GOAT, THE HART ANDANTELOPE, THE HYENA On the Norman doorway of Alne, in York-shire, among a number of other animalcarvings, is one of an animal lying on itsback, with paws outstretched, so that it seemsto be dead. Two birds are represented ; onepecking the animals body, and the otherplacing its head in its jaws. The inscriptionabove—the word Vulpis ^—leaves no room fordoubt as to the artists intention. The Bestiaries relate that the fox ensnareslunwary fowls by pretending to be dead ; inlike
. Symbolism of animals and birds represented in English church architecture . CHAPTER III THE FOX, THE GOAT, THE HART ANDANTELOPE, THE HYENA On the Norman doorway of Alne, in York-shire, among a number of other animalcarvings, is one of an animal lying on itsback, with paws outstretched, so that it seemsto be dead. Two birds are represented ; onepecking the animals body, and the otherplacing its head in its jaws. The inscriptionabove—the word Vulpis ^—leaves no room fordoubt as to the artists intention. The Bestiaries relate that the fox ensnareslunwary fowls by pretending to be dead ; inlike manner the devil deceives unwary soulswho love the corrupt things of the carving at Alne was probably takendirect from a Bestiary. This and the othercarved archstones from the same churchare particularly valuable, owing to theirinscriptions. In a very mutilated Lihcr de Animalibusof the thirteenth century in the BrilishMuseum (Vit. D. 1) two birds are peckingat the mouth of the fox ; while the latter is 1 Vulpis is the actual inscription on the door, though
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