156 HAWKS. 



supposed to destroy scorpions, serpents, and divers 

 dangerous reptiles. Others again were deified, or held 

 sacred, because the priests, or augurs, as they were called, 

 made use of their swift flight in their divinations, or 

 pretended foretellings of events which were to happen. 

 And others, again, looked upon them as sacred, from an 

 ancient tradition, stating, that once upon a time, a book, 

 bound about with a scarlet thread, was brought to the 

 priests of Thebes, by a Hawk, on which was written all 

 the secret rites and customs of the divine worship of the 

 Egyptians. This extraordinary respect was not only 

 shown to the living birds, but was even more marked, 

 by the funeral attention paid to them when dead. Their 

 bodies were wrapped up in linen folds, steeped in per- 

 fumed and precious oils, in order to preserve them ; and 

 in this state, they are still frequently found in what are 

 called the mummy-pits of Egypt. A celebrated traveller, 

 Mr. Salt, in his account of Abyssinia, a country bordering 

 on Egypt, speaks of a certain species of Hawk, respecting 

 which the people entertain a singular superstition. When 

 they set out on a journey, if they happen to meet with 

 one of them, they watch it very attentively, and draw 

 good or evil omens, or signs, from its motions ; if it sits 

 still, with its breast towards them, till they have passed, 

 they consider it as a fortunate sign, and everything is 

 expected to go on well during the remainder of their 

 journey ; whereas, if its back is turned towards them, it 

 is considered an unfavourable sign, but not sufficiently 

 so as to create serious alarm ; but should it happen to 

 fly away hastily on their approach, some of the most 

 superstitious among them will immediately turn back, 

 and go home again, and wait for a more favourable 

 opportunity for undertaking their journey. Mr. Salt 

 was so much struck with the resemblance of this species 

 to the sacred Hawk, so often seen inscribed on the 

 ancient picture-writings, or hieroglyphics, as they are 

 called, of Egypt, that he considered it to be the same 

 which was formerly held sacred and worshipped. 



