SACRED IBIS.—Ihis religiosa. 



GLOSSY IBIS,— 7&!.5 /(dcinclh>s. 



The Sacred Ibis is one of a ratlier curious group of birds. With one exception thev 

 are not possessed of brilliant colouring, the feathers being mostly white and deep purplish 

 black. The Scarlet Ibis, however, is a most magnificent, though not very large bird, its 

 plumage being of a glowing scarlet, relieved by a few patches of black. 



The Sacred Ibis is so called because it figures largely in an evidently sacred character on 

 the hieroglyphs of ancient Egypt. It is a migratory bird, arriving in Egypt as soon as 

 the waters of the Nile begin to rise, and remaining in tliat land until the waters have sub- 

 sided, and therefore deprived it of its daily supplies of food. The bird probably owes its 

 sacred character to the fact that its appearance denotes the rising of the Nile, an annual 

 phenomenon on which depends the prosperity of the whole country. 



Sometimes the Ibis stalks in solitary state along the banks of the river or the many 

 watercourses that intersect the low country, but sometimes associates in little Hocks of 

 eight or ten in number. Its food consists mostly of molluscs, both terrestrial and aquatic, 

 but it will eat worms, insects, and probably the smaller reptiles. The Ibis was at one time 

 thought to kill and eat snakes, and this idea was strengthened by the fact that Cuvier 

 detected the scales and bones of snakes within a mummied corpse of an Ibis which was 

 found in the tombs of Egypt and which is known to be identical with the present species. 

 Eecent specimens, however, seldom contain anything but molluscs and insects. 



The walk of the Ibis is quiet and deliberate, though it can get over the ground with 

 considerable speed whenever it chooses. Its Hight is lofty and strong, and the bird has a 

 habit of uttering a loud and peculiar cry as it passes through the air. By the natives of 

 Egypt it is called the Abou Hannes, i.e. Father John, or aIjou JMonzel, he. Father Sickle 

 Bill, the former name being in use in Upper and the othei' in Lower Ei^ypt. 



2. yy . 



