THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 



315 



bii^ds traverse the air on their route to Nubia, I was en- 

 abled to verify the accuracy of their narrations. 



I have also observed, that when these travellers, worn 

 out with fatigue, rested at different places on the banks of 

 the river, there were placed all around the dense crowd of 

 sleeping birds motionless sentinels, which, Avith watchful ear 

 and keen look-out, carefully scanned the environs, and gave 

 the alarm to the whole camp so soon as an enemy ap- 

 proached. Our hunters tried to surprise them, but always 

 in vain. Long before they were within gun-shot, these 

 vigilant sentries were seen to raise their necks, watch 

 those approaching, hesitate a few moments, beating their 

 Avings, aiad then Avith a Ioav cry take Aving, when all the 

 troop of emigrants followed. 



iFTrrmBir7rTin]'TniP[inTTFrrrrri"wmiii: 



\j~j^ 



179. Catching Wild Geese, from n painting in tlie Subterranean Temples of Beui-Hassan. 

 Lepsius, "jMonuments of Egypt and Etliiopia." 



Nevertheless, it is prol)able that the ancient Egyptians, 

 more skilful than Ave are, succeeded in capturing these 

 travelling bands. In fact, among the paintings or hiero- 

 glyphs on the monuments of the Pharaohs, Ave frequently 



