T H E S T O R K, &e. 85 



The Ibis was ferviceable to the Egyptians, by ridding their country 

 of ferpents i and ftill contimies the fervice, having particular delight in 

 killing reptiles of all forts, even when fatiated with food. There are 

 two kinds; the black, which is very fcarce; and the whitCj which is 

 comn-;on. The white is rather lefs than the ftork, about three feet and a 

 half in length, legs long and naked, face and forehead without feathers, 

 bill arched, the tips of the wings and tail black ; the reft of the plumage 

 white } the bill is yellowilli, roundifh, and terminates bluntly j the head, 

 eyes, and throat are covered \vith a wrinkled fkin ; the fides of the bill 

 arc fharp, cutting, and hard enough to cut ferpents ; which probably is 

 the manner in which the bird deftroys them. The legs are red, fcaly j 

 the nails pointed, narrow, blackilh ; rudiments of membranes -, tongue 

 very fhort ; globe of the eye fmalh . 



Known to be the ancient Ibis by the bills remaining in fome pots of 

 mummies, and by the bones of the leg. Being held in efteem in Egypt, 

 frequents towns, and lives freely, wandering at pleafure in the ftreets. 

 Nettles on palm trees, and among tufts of prickly leaves^ to prevent the at- 

 tack of cats : lays four eggs ; fits four weeks : this relation to the four phafes 

 of the m.oon, and the black and white plumage of the bird, occafioned 

 it to be confeerated to Ifis (i. e. the moon). Is long lived : the Egyp- 

 tian priefts (hewed to Herodotus one which was/<? old, as they faid, i( 

 could net die. 



The Black'lhxs is fmaller than the white, and not fo long legged; 

 in the reft refembling the form.er. 



In Egypt, &:c. are cranes, ftorks, hawks, kites, and falcons, all equal 

 enemies to ferpents, and that devour a vaft number. The modern ibis 

 is not peculiar to Egypt ; and fome perfons have even thought that the 

 true ibis is a bird of the vulture kind, called the capon of Pharaoh, 

 which not only is a devourer of ferpents, but will follow the caravans 

 that go to Mecca, to feed upon the offal of the animals that are killed 

 on the journeys of lomewhat like which we have a hint in Josephus, 

 though much difguifcd, relating to the ibis : but thefe birds have not 

 Idle fame relation to Ifis, as the true ibis has, and which feems to fix 

 [it to the bird we have dcfcribed. 



THE JABIRU. 



THE Jabiru is thelargeft bird of the crane kind i much higher than 

 the crane itfclf, and double its fize i in body exceeding the fwan. 



P 2 Inhabits 



