AETITES, or EAGLE-STONES, in natural history, a flinty or crystallized stone, hollow within, and containing a nucleus, which, on shaking, rattles within. It was formerly in repute for several extraordinary magical as well as medical powers; such as preventing abortion, discovering thieves, and other ridiculous properties. The word is formed from ae- "eagle;" the popular tradition being, that it is found in the eagle's nest, whether it is supposed to be carried while the female sits, to prevent her eggs from being rotten. It is found in several parts: near Trevoux in France, one can scarce dig a few feet, without finding considerable strata or beds of the coarser or ferruginous kind. They are originally soft, and of the colour of yellow oaker. But the finest and most valued of all the eagle-stones, are accidental flates of one or other of our common pebbles.