6 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
(‘ Hieroglyphisch-demotisches Worterbuch,’ i. 238) distinctly 
terms this figure to be that of the young of the Fowl—“ das 
Hiihnchen.”  Brugsch was certainly one of the very highest 
Egyptological authorities who has ever lived, but he was no 
ornithologist, and we think it will be wise to strengthen his 
Opinion by evidence gathered from other sources. 
We have examined carefully a vast number of the original 
signs, drawn or carved by scribes and sculptors from the earliest 
dynasties (B.c. 4400) to the time when the figure became a 
mere convention and finally disappeared (about the end of the 
Roman Period). Two typical examples have been figured for 
the benefit of those who have no acquaintance with the hiero- 
olyphic writings. Now, it is impossible for any ornithologist to 
believe that the bird is not the young of some member or other 
of the Order Galline, or Game-birds, and we cannot do better, 
after being settled on this point, than take the likely species in 
detail. There can be no question that the bird-life of the Nile 
Valley of to-day is far different from that of five or even two 
thousand years ago, but, with the exception of the status of one 
or two species that have nothing to do with the present question, 
we have no knowledge of the extent or the nature of these 
changes, and there are reasons for believing that certain kinds 
have remained stable.* 
Of existing Game-birds in Egypt, the Sand-Grouse—known 
to the ancient Egyptians as ‘‘ The Skulking One’’—comes first 
on our lists. One species (Péterocles exustus) 1s to-day a common 
bird, and was probably as common in the ancient times, for we 
see its portrait frequently on the monuments. The young of 
the Sand-Grouse, however, differs very considerably from the 
figures of our chicken, and can be passed over at once. The 
Francolin has been recorded for the Delta, but on doubtful 
authority, and we have no trace of it on the monuments. The 
same can apply to the Seesee Partridge (Ammoperdix heyi), and 
the Andalusian Hemipode, both of which, however, have occurred 
in modern Egypt as rare stragglers. The only other Game-bird 
known in a wild state in the Nile Valley (of course, we confine 
* Cf. Shelley’s ‘ Birds of Egypt’ for details of the ornithology of the Nile 
Valley of to-day. 
