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



Allowing for the excellent material at hand, and the preserving 

 influence of climate, the figures on the granite obelisk of Karnak, 

 done in the time of Tuthmosis I., display, especially with refer- 

 ence to the birds, a clearness of expression, a boldness and a truth- 

 fulness of outline, in every way surprising. Standing among the 

 broken fragments of its sister obelisk, and looking upon the 

 polished sides of this noble work of art, one can scarcely realize 

 the idea that, since its construction, better than thirty-four cen- 

 turies have passed away. 



Although many species of birds have been found embalmed 

 in tombs and pits, it is not clear that all were sacred. Perhaps 

 whatever animal appeared on the hieroglyphic writings, and was 

 not used as an article of food, may have been occasionally buried 

 in that way ; however that may have been, it is certain that the 

 White Ibis, and probably two or more species of Hawks, including 

 the Kestrel, were sacred, and kept at the public expense. This 

 is not only evident from history, but also from the great num- 

 bers of their mummies, which would scarcely have been so plen- 

 tiful had merely the bodies of stray individuals been collected, 

 and more especially as the punishment of death awaited whoever 

 killed an Ibis or a Hawk, either by design or accident. 



Owls, Sparrows, Bare-headed and Egyptian Vultures, &c. have 

 been found embalmed, but only occasionally, and rarely more 

 than one or two at a time. Diodorus, Cicero, and others say 

 that the Ibis and Hawk were worshipped because these birds 

 destroy " scorpions, horned snakes, and noxious creatures which 

 endanger life." Were the ancient Egyptians aware at the same 

 time that the Kestrel preyed most extensively on all species of 

 their beloved Scarabai, including the most sacred emblem of 

 the sun and of the world ? The supposition that all Vultures 

 were females led to their adopting this bird as the representa- 

 tive of maternity and protection ; accordingly the Bald-headed 

 Vultures, with outspread wings, on the ceilings of the temples 

 secured protection to the worshippers. 



Egypt and Nubia, viewed from an ornithological stand-point, 

 present very different physical as well as geological features. 

 The great expanse of cultivation in the low country, and various 

 outlets of the Nile at the Delta, with their shallows, marshes, 



