3?4 



THE SACRED IBIS. 



and to birds; and it was this bird, again, which formed 

 part of the idol abominations alluded to in the vision of 

 Ezekiel. It is called the Ibis religiosa, or Sacred Ibis, 

 and is peculiar to Egypt, and the countries bordering on 

 the river Nile, coming down from Ethiopia on the 

 increase of the river; and from this circumstance is 

 named by the Arabs, Abou-mengel, (Father of the 

 Sickle,) in allusion to the fruits of harvest, which are 

 derived from the inundations of the Nile. It feeds on 

 the smaller reptiles, and, as the Arabs still say, on ser- 

 pents, which has by many been supposed the sole cause 

 of its being worshipped by the Egyptians; but this ap- 

 pears doubtful, and we are inclined, with some other 



The Sacred Ibis. 



