ORDER GRALL-TE. 350 



cause their bill, though similarly arched, is much 

 weaker, and not emarginated at the point ; and the 

 nostrils, pierced towards the back of the base, are 

 each of them prolonged in a furrow, which extends 

 to the end. This bill is, moreover, tolerably thick, 

 almost square at the base, and there is always some 

 part of the head, or even of the neck, denuded of 

 feathers. The external toes are very clearly pal- 

 mated at the base, and the thumb is sufficiently long 

 to rest upon the ground. 



There are some which have the legs short and 

 reticulated. These are the most robust, and have 

 the grossest bill. 



The Sacred Ibis. Ibis Religiosa. Cuv. Abou- 

 Hannes. Bruce. It. pi. S5. Tantalus ^thio- 

 picus. Lath. The adult, Cuv. Recherches sur 

 les Ossemens Fossils, tom. 1. ; and the young, 

 Savigny, Descrip. de I'Egypte, Hist. Nat. des Ois. 

 pi. 7. 



Is the most celebrated species. This bird was 

 brought up in the temples of ancient Egypt with a 

 degree of respect bordering on adoration. It was 

 carefully embalmed after its death. These honours, 

 say some, were paid it because it was habituated to 

 devour serpents, which have become dangerous to 

 the country ; according to others, because there was 

 some relation between its plumage and the phases of 

 the moon. Lastly, some were of opinion that its 

 appearance announced the annual increase of the 



