AND LOWER EGYPT. 335 



found ; the plumage of all of them is of a dazzling 

 white, but they differ with respect to size. The 

 small species is the most common ; the individuals 

 which compose them, likewise differ from each 

 other in the colour of their feet ; some of them 

 are black, others greenish, and several are yellow. 

 There is every reason to presume that this variety 

 is the effect of age, or of sex, and not a distinction 

 of race. The large and the small species carry on 

 their backs long fringed and silky feathers, which 

 serve to form plumes and tufts. All of them have 

 not this natural attire ; perhaps it is peculiar to the 

 males only. However this may be, it was very 

 ea*y to procure, in Egypt, the most beautiful fea- 

 thers of these birds, for they were greatly multi- 

 plied in the lower parts of that country, and more 

 particularly towards Damietta, where the waters, 

 which they are fond of frequenting, occupy a 

 greater space. The inhabitants do not hunt them, 

 and no person thinks of them as food. 



I smile, at this moment, when I recall to mind 

 the little occurrence to which the herons gave 

 birth, on my journey fi )m Rossetta to Alexandria 

 with M. Tott. He had in his train, a little sur- 

 geon quite puffed up with folly and self-suffi- 

 ciency. Uniting together their knowledge in na- 

 tural history, they were clearly of opinion, that 

 the numerous herons, whose dazzling whiteness, 

 3 emblem 



