Note 70 — Chapter III · THE SPARROW-HAWK
D. C. (Douglas Craven) Phillott translation
“To seel,” is to sew up the eyes: a thread is passed through the centre of each lower eye-lid, near its edge; the two threads are then knotted together on the top of the head, being drawn so tight that the lower eye-lids cover and close the eyes. Wild birds so treated sit quite still and do not injure themselves.