THE EGYPTIAN VUI.TUBE.* 



This bird is sometimes called "Pharaoh's chic-ken." It has a feeble, slender, elongated 

 bill, the anterior part of the head and throat only being denuded of feathers. The 

 nostrils arc oval and longitudinal ; the tail wedge-shaped. It is one of the smallest of the 

 A-ultures, and little more than the size of a raven. It is spread over the whole of tlu> 

 hotter portions of the old world, from Spain to the Ctist ; throughout Greece, the islands of 

 the Levant, Turkey and throughout the greater part of Africa, it abounds in immense flocks. 



Sonnini tells us that these vultures ai-e not ferocious in Egypt ; they are to be seen on 

 the terraces of houses, in the midst of the most popidous and noisy cities, perfectly quiet, 

 and living in complete security among men, who feed and cherish them with the utmost 

 care. Tlicy also frequent the deserts, and prey upon the carcases of men and animals 

 which have perished in these immense wastes, consecrated, as it were, for ages to naked- 

 ness, desolation, and sterility. Those which inhabit Egypt are not kno^vn to quit it, but 

 some of the same species are to be found in Syria and Turkey ; less numerous, however, 

 because they do not enjoy the same prerogatives, nor is their existence protected in these 

 countries by ancient superstition, as in Egypt: for tliey were considered sacred among 

 tlic old Egyi)tiai;s, whose opinions on this j) )iiit, as on nuiiiy others, luivc been fi'ans- 

 mitted to their successors, even to this day. In tnitli, tliey pcrforai very considerable 

 service.s to this cnuiitiy, in .--liaring wilh othrr l)ii\ls, ciiiLilly s.icri'il in anciml limes, the 

 task of destroving tlie rats and reptiles vrhieh aVxmnd in tliis f'ertiU" anil slimy region. 'I'hey 

 also clear away tli'^ carcjsoi and filth, which wo dd otherwise prove exeee.lingly injurious. 



* Ncuplirou I'crcuoptci'us. Sclbv. — l'.py])(i:iii Niupliiuii. (iuulii. 



