and saw this : every population thus assimilated , mimicked , infiltrated and observed by the host ( angel still ) had erectedin honor and admiration , out of fear or respectstatues of birds , of big , eagle-like , phoenix-like birds that in the wing-spread act of touching down dark-eyed and sternly gazed upon squares and fields and oceans or down wide avenues of these many visited planets : these were their gods then , these birds : his enemies .