154 



tile Mummies of the Ibis contain in general little hut 

 black dust, which is believed to be the remains of the 

 bird : but that they were informed that sometimes, 

 though very rarely, the bones and feathers were 

 found in them : this is the case with the one in this 

 Museum ; the cloth in which it was wrapped, the bill, 

 bones, and feathers, are still entire. This very inte- 

 resting and curious article was added to this collection 

 by the liberality of Jacob Wilkinson, Esq. of Bath, 

 whose brother, C. Wilkinson, Esq. of Clapham, 

 brought it from Egypt. What are our boasted mo- 

 numents of antiquity ? the dates of our churches and 

 cathedrals (though crumbled and crumbling into dust) 

 are but as yesterday when compared with the age of 

 a few perishable feathers, which had existence on the 

 banks of the Nile perhaps two thousand years before 

 the foundation stone of the first of them mms laid. 

 What a field for reflection does the contemplation 

 of this article open to our view. 



Son of to-day, thy daring hopes are vain, 



That aught of thee my lengthened date shall gain.' 



A Mummy of the Ibis, in its original envelope, as 

 taken from the earthen vessel ; the linen cloth, for 

 the manufacture of which the ancient Egyptians were 

 celebrated, remaining entire. Presented by the 

 Bishop of Durham, 



Mummy of the Head of some large Graniverous 

 animal. 



Ditto of the Ichneumon. 



The two last were brought from Egypt, and pre- 

 sented to the Museum by the Earl of Cavan. 



