THE SACRED IBIS 
Ibis aethiopica 
General plumage white; a mass of almost hair-like 
feathers falls over the wings and tail—these feathers are a 
rich metallic black with deep blue reflections; head and 
neck bare of all feathers, showing black wrinkled skin ; beak 
and legs black; eyes brown. Length, 28 inches. 
Tuts is one of the birds the selection of which I 
fully expect to get criticism on. But I have chosen 
it for two reasons that, I think, justify its inclusion. 
The first is, that from one cause or another the 
Sacred Ibis is a bird so wrapped up with all our 
ideas of Egypt, and almost representative of the 
birds of Egypt, that most, although they do not 
know the bird, are interested in its existence. 
The second is one that follows this known interest, 
namely, the exposing of the dragoman’s oft-repeated 
impudent lie, that he can, and does, show the new- 
comer Sacred Ibises, whereas he does not and 
cannot. 
Why, exactly, this bird was treated with reverence 
in its lifetime as a sacred being, and embalmed 
and mummified when dead, is not known. That it 
was is certain ; and most museums can show many 
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