BIRDS OF EGYPT 261 



when they were too shy to allow of my approach within shot, 

 and on the second occasion at Golosaneh in March, when I 

 obtained two specimens. According to Von HeugUn (Syst. 

 Ueb. p. 63) they are very abundant on the shores of the 

 Red Sea. 



Entire plumage white, except the following parts — top of 

 the head and back of the neck, a band between the shoulders, 

 inner part of the scapulars, wing-covcrts, and primaries, which 

 are brownish black ; beak, the apical half of which is curved 

 upwards, black ; legs slaty grey. 



Entire length 17 inches; culnicn 3'7 ; wing, carpus to 

 tip, 9 ; tarsus 3"0. 



Fig. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 289. 



268. Ibis iETHiopicA (Lath.)*. Sacred Ibis. 



I can find no authenticated instance of this bird having 

 been seen in Egypt in modern times, although there can be 

 no doubt that it once lived in that country ; for the food found 

 in many of the mummied specimens consists of shells, insects, 

 and reptiles now common in Egypt. Some authors imagine 

 that the Ibis was brought into the country by the ancient 

 Egyptians ; but this appears to me highly improbable, as it 

 would be the only instance of an animal not indigenous to 

 Egypt having been made an object of general worship by 

 that people. 



This bird is now plentiful higher up the Nile at Khartoom ; 

 and I think it probable that it may yet be found in Egypt 

 proper, for it breeds at Wady Halfeh according to Von 

 Hcuglin (Syst. Ueb. p. 61). 



* Ibis reJigiosa of authors. 



