4^8 Phyjical and Mifcellaneous 



this, that was once known to every Family, is now become 

 exceedingly rare ; though the Want of it is fufficiently fup- 

 "^rlfn'^Lt plied, by the Stork. For, befides a great Number of thefe 

 N^^mbers in ^^^As, that might undoubtedly efcape my Notice, I faw, in the 

 Middle of ^pr'tl, (17^1-) (our Ship lying then at Anchor un- 

 der Mount Carmel,) three Flights of them, each of which 

 took up more than three Hours, in pafling by us ; extending 

 itfelf , at the fame Time, more than half a Mile in Breadth. 

 They were then leaving Egypt, (where the Canals, and the 

 Ponds that are annually left by the Nile, were become dry,) 

 and direfted themfelves towards the N. E. 

 They afembh jf is obfervcd of the Storks, that, for about the Space of a 

 Sy'^J} /WW Fortnight, before they pafs from one Country to another, they 

 'r.?2rr'^"'conftantly refort together, from all the circumjacent Parts, in 

 a certain Plain ; and there forming themfelves , once every 

 Day, into a T>oii-wanne, (according to the Phrafe of thefe 

 People,) are faid to determine the exa6l Time of their Depar- 

 ture, and the Places of their future Abodes'. Thofe that fre- 

 quent the Marfhes of Barhary , appear about three Weeks 

 fooner, than the Flights above-mentioned, were obferved to 

 .do *, though they likewife are fuppofed to come from Egyp ; 

 whither alfo they return a little after the Autumnal ^quinoxy 

 the Nile being then retired within it's Banks^ and the Country 

 in a proper Difpofition to fupply them with Nourifhment. 

 TheSioxkac- T^\iQ Mahomtians have the Bel-arje, (forfo they commonly 

 i^S Nilho- call the Stork',) in the higheft Efteem and Veneration. It is 

 as facred among them, as the Ihis was among the Egyptians*^ 

 and no lefs profane would that Perfon be accounted, who fhould 

 attempt to kill, nay even to hurt or moleft it. The great 

 Regard that is paid to thefe Birds, might have been perhaps 

 firft obtauied, not fo much from the Service they are of to a 

 moift, fenny Country-, in clearing it of a Variety of ufelels 

 Reptils and Infeds, as from the folemnGefticulations, they are 



I This Account agrees with what we read, 'Ja. 8. 7. The Stork m the Heaven kpoweth her 

 appointed Times. 2 [^1.^^^ or ^iij] Leklek^or Lp^leg is the Name, that is commonly ufed 

 by the Arabian Authors, though Bcl-arje prevails alJ over Burbary. Bochart (Hieroz. 1.2. 

 cap. 29.) fuppofethittobethefame with the ///j^^rf of the Scriptures, a Bird, which was fo 

 called from thePiety of it. Nam T)~\^Dr\ piam & benig7iam fonat. Id. ibid. £.wj»4 Ciconijs 

 inejl Pietas. Etenim quantmn temporis impendertnt fcetil/us educandis, tantum & ipfi a puUis futs 

 invicem altmttir. Solin. Polyhift. cap. 53 Aiiian. Hift. Anitn. i.j. cap. 23. Horup. 1.2. 

 cap. ^J. 5 Thus it is faid of the People of The(f.tly. Qiem^oi Trihafyif (eT/pw'tf*,) ov mtftlf 

 'ipHcfy'ts ivttMimf, ^^luiv-m i^tihijaji AntnAm. Plut. de Ifid. p. 380. Honos ijs ferpev.tium exitio 

 t.tnttts, lit j»Theffalia capitate fuerit occidijfe. Plin. 1. 10. cap. 23. 



ob- 



mitans. 



