12 Dr. A, L. Adams on the Birds of Egypt and Nubia. 



way of wild individuals. The claws of many mummied Kestrels 

 examined by me were all sharp, and unlike those of tamed 

 Hawks long habituated to close confinement. At the present 

 day the Kestrel is one of the most familiar birds of Egypt ; in- 

 deed, more so than perhaps is observed in any other country. 

 I have often been enabled to approach the Kestrel within a 

 few yards, whereas the Sparrow-Hawk and the other small 

 Raptores seem in no wise different in habits from those of the 

 same species I have noticed elsewhere. Whenever a Hawk died, 

 its body was handed over to the embalmers, and subsequently 

 deposited in a sacred tomb. It mattered not where or how it 

 bad died, in common with other sacred animals, it was wrapped in 

 linen cloth, and followed to the grave by a procession of mourners, 

 whose outward signs of grief were shown by beating their 

 breasts, and by such voluntary penances as testified to the vene- 

 ration with which these animals were held. Even the Hawks 

 which died in foreign countries were embalmed and brought to 

 Egypt. There is every reason to suppose ancient authors were 

 correct in stating that the animals held sacred were those man 

 found most useful towards his well-being. The Hawk was par- 

 tially revered at Philse, and worshipped at Heliopolis, where, as 

 in other Egyptian cities, it was considered the tj^pe of the Sun 

 and repi'esentative of the deity of the place. It appears, how- 

 ever, that the Hawk Strabo saw at Philse was different from any 

 he had seen in Lower Egypt or Greece ; he says " it was larger, 

 and very different in the marks of its plumage, and that it was 

 a native of Ethiopia^' *. 



ACCIPITER NISUS 



Seems more common in Nubia than in Egypt, where it may be 

 often observed, scouring along the narrow strips of cultivation 

 on the river's bank in quest of the Chiff-chaff, Pied Wagtail, 

 and Red-throated Pipit. It has no favour for the Kestrel, and 

 seldom loses an opportunity of annoying the little creature. 

 Coupled with the impertinent attacks of Kites and Hooded 

 Crows, the Kestrel appears to enjoy little peace or comfort. 

 Several male Sparrow-Hawks measured in the flesh 12^ inches, 



* Lib. xvi. W). 



