134 EGYPTIAN BIRDS 



now become cultivated ground. This view might 

 be taken from the extensive use of papyrus in 

 dynastic days, almost implying that it grew 

 commonly near at hand. What is certain, how- 

 ever, is that it does not do so now ; and Ibis and 

 papyrus are so joined together that, the one being 

 absent, the other is also. In the plate I have there- 

 fore shown Ibis in a regular jungle of papyrus.^ 

 There is something strange, almost weird, about 

 the appearance of this bird, with his bald black 

 head ; something almost priestly about the black 

 and white drooping wings forming a vestment from 

 which springs the thin, black, naked neck and back. 

 Some will see none of these things, and only find 

 a resemblance to an ugly vulture. It is rather a 

 moody sort of bird, and does not get on over well 

 with other birds when kept in confinement. It 

 eats nearly anything that comes out of the water, 

 and is especially partial to a nice young fat frog. 



1 It was by M. Legran's courtesy that I was allowed to make ray first 

 drawings of papyrus, from some that was found growing in the garden of 

 his charming house at Karnak. 



