Bird Notes from the Nile. 63 



to keep the draw-line taut; a fifth man 

 stands in the net catching birds with both 

 hands, while three other men are busily 

 employed packing the live birds into cages. 

 Small traps were also used for snaring 

 birds singly. These traps, which were 

 the fashion thousands of years ago, are 

 almost identical with those in use in 

 Egypt to-day. We bought one on the 

 island of Elephantine with the bait in 

 it, ready for setting. 



" The cry of the goose wails, 

 It is caught by the worm," 



says an early Egyptian poem, with a little 

 touch of sadness. 



Wild geese were taken in great numbers 

 by professional bird-catchers, to be fattened 

 for the market ; they were systematically 

 crammed with balls of paste. Geese, 

 ducks, and also smaller game, such 

 as sand-grouse, quail, etc., were pre- 

 served by being salted in large jars. 

 When they were wanted for table they 

 were well soaked in water, to get rid of 

 the salt, and were then either stewed or 

 eaten raw. A beautiful painting from a 

 tomb at Thebes represents a great official 



