THE SACRED IBIS. 333 



(Job xxxi. 26, &c). The reason why the Egyptians more 

 particularly venerated the moon was, because they considered it, 

 in its crescent form, as bearing some resemblance to the boat, or 

 ark, in which JSoah was preserved in the flood, and in their 

 language, accordingly, they used the same terms for the moon 

 and the ark. 



Looking upon the Ibis, therefore, as a type or emblem of 

 the moon, and again associating its appearance on the banks 

 of the river Nile, at a season reminding them of the approach 

 of those abundant crops produced by the inundations of their 

 sacred river, we can easily see the reason why the priests of 

 the country held it up to the ignorant people as a bird sent 

 from Heaven, and therefore to be worshipped in life and 

 Honoured in death. 



