214 History of Nature. [BooK X. 



upon his own Knowledge, that every fifth Year the same 

 Birds do the like in Ethiopia about the royal Palace of 

 Memnon. 



In a similar manner, the Meleagrides 1 fight in Bcaotia. 

 These Meleagrides are a kind of gallinaceous Birds of Africa, 

 hunch-backed, the Bunch scattered with Feathers of different 

 Colours. Of all foreign Birds these are the last admitted at 

 Table, by reason of their strong, harsh Taste. But it is the 

 Sepulchre of Meleager which hath given them Credit. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

 Of Birds named Seleucides.* 



THE Birds are called Seleucides, which come in conse- 

 quence of the Prayers offered to Jupiter by the Inhabitants 

 of Mount Casius, against the Locusts, when they devastate 

 their Crops. But from whence they come, or whither they 

 go, no Man knovveth ; for they are never seen but when 

 there is need of their Help. 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

 Of the Ibis. 3 



THE Egyptians also invoke their Ibis against the coming 

 of Serpents ; and the Eleans the God Myiagrosf to be deli- 

 flew about it, divided into two troops, with the appearance of a combat, 

 such as were common to the Greeks around the tombs of their heroes : 

 and it was probably this habit which chiefly attracted their attention. 

 Dalechampius supposes them to have been a kind of crows. Ovid gives 

 the popular legend of these birds, as deriving their origin from the 

 funeral pile of Memnon. (B. xiii. ch. iii.) Wern. Club. 



1 Numida meleagris, Cuv. Guinea Fowl. At Rome they were known 

 by the name of African Hens. Wern. Club. 



2 It seems impossible to trace what these Birds are. Wern. Club. 



3 Ibis religiosa^ Cuv. The Ibis. Mummies of this bird are now 

 found in abundance in Egypt. Wern. Club. 



4 Many of the gods of the Heathens obtained names or epithets from 

 from such exploits as this. Beelzeloul, or Beelzeloub, mentioned in the 

 New Testament, was so denominated for the same reason. Wern, Club. 



