May, 1S41.] 15 



Dr. Morton (Professor Johnson taking the chair) exhibited 

 the embalmed body of an Egyptian Ibis, Ibis religiosa, which 

 was unwrapped by him in the Hall of the Academy, on the 

 10th of April, in the presence of many members and others. 



This specimen was one of several sent to Dr. Morton by 

 George R. Gliddon, Esq., United States Consul at Cairo. It 

 was obtained at Saccara, and is probably two thousand five hun- 

 dred years old. The bird was enveloped in nearly one hundred 

 and fifty folds of the usual linen mummy-cloth, and was found to 

 be in perfect preservation; the head being extended downwards 

 between the legs, and the latter drawn up, with the toes pointing 

 outward: the feathers were generally uninjured, retaining much 

 of their original colour ; and it may be confidently asserted, that 

 this is one of the most perfect examples of the art of bird-embalm- 

 ing which has ever been submitted to the inspection of natu- 

 ralists. 



The Ibis, [Ibis religiosa,) as a sacred bird, was fed and wor- 

 shipped in the Egyptian temples ; yet it is difficult to imagine in 

 what way they were obtained in such vast numbers as are now 

 found embalmed in the pyramids of Saccara. For example, 

 Pococke, who travelled in Egypt upwards of a century since, 

 expressed a fear that the embalmed Ibis would soon become 

 extinct, in consequence of the daily and wanton destruction of 

 the jars in which they are embalmed ; and yet travellers of our 

 own times assure us, after all this protracted devastation, that 

 thousands of these relics remain undisturbed in the pyramids. 



The motive for worshipping the Ibis has been variously ex- 

 plained ; but the true cause was, no doubt, the appearance of this 

 bird (which is a native of Abyssinia) during the inundation of the 

 Nile, and its departure to the south on the subsidence of the 

 water; for the Egyptians rendered homage to every thing which 

 was connected with a phenomenon on which depended all their 

 hopes of health, plenty, and happiness. 



Dr. Morton adverted again to the fact, mentioned at a former 

 meeting, that on first opening one of these Ibis-jars, the wrappings, 

 which were beautifully adjusted, were almost, if not entirely 

 colourless; but that in a short time they assumed the dark brown 

 colour which the bitumen usually imparts to the mummy-cloth. 



