PREHISTORIC BIRDS 7 
to the fourth dynasty, but in any case it must date from 
at least three thousand years before the Christian era. It 
suffices to show that in these two species of Geese a space 
of more than five thousand years has not been long enough 
to create any alteration in plumage. There are many other 
birds besides Geese among the paintings of Egypt, but very 
few of equal merit and antiquity with this slab. 
RED-BREASTED GEESE FROM MEIDOUM. 
The Fowl.—But old as is the painting from Meidoum, 
there exist figures believed by Messrs. Stubbs and Rowe to be 
ascribable to the Domestic Fowl, which date further back still. 
In a shrewd investigation of their age and identity, these 
authors seek to demonstrate that the Fow] was kept and reared 
by the inhabitants of ancient Egypt prior to 4400 B.c.* In 
support of their contention, they cite especially two figures, 
one a painting, the other a statuette, but as their cut of 
the latter is not quite satisfactory, it is here more correctly 
reproduced from the Proceedings of The Society of Biblical 
Archeology.f 
* “ Zoologist,” 1912, p. 1. 
t Vol. XXII. p. 270. 
