204 THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XIV. 



tlie heads projecting from their forehead, and the 

 wings falling downwards on either side to their 

 neck. * 



Mummies of this vulture have been found em- 

 balmed at Thebes. 



The vulture Percnopterus was probably regarded 

 with great indulgence by the Egyptians ; but though 

 frequently represented in the sculptures, there is 

 no evidence of its having been worshipped, or even 

 considered the peculiar emblem of any Deity. 



Tradition, however, seems to record its having 

 enjoyed a considerable degree of favour, in former 

 times, by one of the names it now bears, "Pharaoh's 

 hen." Even the Moslem mhabitants of Egypt 

 abstain from ill-treating|; it in consequence of its 

 utility, together with the kites and other birds 

 of prey, in removing those impurities which might 

 otherwise be prejudicial in so hot a climate. It is 

 generally known in Arabic by the name Rdkham, 

 which is the same it bore in Hebrew, Dn"1, trans- 

 lated in our version of Leviticus gier-errglef; where 

 it is comprised among the fowls forbidden to be 

 eaten by the Israelites. 



Eagle, Hawk. 



Diodorust and Strabo § tell us that the eagle 

 was worshipped at Thebes. But it is evident that 

 they ought to have substituted the hawk, which 



* Conf. JEVvan, x. 22. Vide Plate 20. 2(1 fig. The (5oclilcss Maut. 

 PI. 27. part i., and Plate 5.3. part i. &c. 



I Levit. xi. 18. % Diodor. i. 87. 



$i Strabo, 17. 



