326 



FOREIGN BIRDS. 



The Egret, the Great, and the Little, milk white. 

 Their pinions displayed 'midst a splendour of light. 

 'Mongst the Eagles, the Crested a denizen here, 

 Were many rapacious whose looks begat fear. 



were paid to it by the superstitious inhabitants. This bird 

 feeds on locnsts, caterpillars, and serpents; and, it is said, even 

 after it is satiated, it still continues occupied in destroying 

 these noxious animals. The intention, therefore, of the Egyptian 

 rulers in rendering this bird sacred, was, doubtless, to preserve 

 and to inutiply so useful an animal. So sacred was it held, 

 that dried skeletons of it have been found preserved as mum- 

 mies. As a drawback from this statement, it should be also ob- 

 served, that many other birds, such as storks, kites, and vultures, 

 are hostile to serpents, and the figures on their hieioglyphics do 

 not appear sufficiently defined, so that this kind of bird may be 

 determined with exactness : certain, however, it is, that for- 

 merly, in Egypt, the killing of this bird was held as a capital 

 crime. 



The LoculatoTy or Wood-Ibis, has a bluish face ; the bill red- 

 dish, nine inches long ; the body white ; legs, quill, and tail- 

 feathers, black. Two other varieties. Three feet long. In- 

 habits New Holland, and the warmer parts nf America ; slow in 

 flight, and stupid ; feeds on fruit, fishes, and reptiles j flesh good. 

 The LeucocephaluSf or White-headed-Ibis, has the head, 

 neck, and body, white ; bill and face yellow ; legs pale flesh- 

 colour ; rump with long rosy feathers; the largest of the tribe. 

 Inhabits India. 



The Ruber f Scarlet-Ibis, Scarlet -Curlew , or Red- Curlew, is 

 a beautiful bird, found in most parts of America, within the 

 tropics; the whole plumage a rich glowing scarlet, except the 

 extremities of the four outer quill feathers, which are of a deep 

 steel blue ; length twenty-three inches ; sits on trees, bnt.lays 

 its greenish eggs on the ground. The young bird*, when first 



