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



their feeders, one after another, are making their obeisance to 

 their master. The above species appears likewise among the 

 votive offerings on the temples. I especially noted, in the little 

 temple of Amada, in Nubia, a scene of this description. The 

 colouring was still clear, and the markings distinct, in consequence 

 of having been sealed up for many centuries by mud, with which 

 the early Christians bedaubed the walls of the temples, in order 

 to efface all records of the idol-worship of their predecessors, 

 little aware at the same time what delightful pictures they were 

 preserving for future generations. 



ChENALOPEX jEGYPTIACA. 



Is generally seen in small flocks, and although not so nu- 

 merous as the last, is more extensively distributed. A few were 

 noticed near the Second Cataract. This is assuredly the " Vul- 

 panser^'* of Herodotus; it appears frequently on the monu- 

 ments, and is often delineated with great artistic skill. The 

 richness of the plumage and remarkable appearance of this spe- 

 cies, compared with the other Nile Geese, would have naturally 

 attracted the early artists. Wherever the colouring has been pre- 

 served, we find usually the head and neck painted red ; the breast 

 and belly blue ; the back yellow, with the tips of the wings red ; 

 the tail with narrow lengthened tail-feathers like the PintailDuck, 

 which many of the Karnak intaglios more closely resemble. 

 The Goose was the emblem of Sib, the father of Osiris, but was 

 not sacred ; it signified a " son," and consequently occurs very 

 often in the Pharaonic ovals, signifying " son of the sun." 

 HorapoUo says it was adopted in consequence of its affection for 

 its young. 



Casarca rutila. 



Occasionally a single bird, at most two, was observed below 



Siout. 



MaRECA PENELOPE. 

 D API LA ACUTA. 

 Rhynchaspis CLYPEATA. 

 QUERQUEDULA CIRCIA. 



* Book ii. 72. 



