164 ibis. 



28— THEBAN IBIS. 



Egyptian Ibis, Phil. Trans. 1805. p. 264. pi. 8. 



THE measurements of the bird here described by Dr. Pearson, are 

 as follow : — Length of the head and bill eight inches; of the neck, 

 of which ten vertebras can be traced, six inches and a half; and from 

 the termination of the neck to the extremity of the tail twelve inches 

 and a half; length of the sternum four inches ; from the end of the 

 metatarsal bone to the extremity of the longest toe seven inches; the 

 longest toe three inches and a half; width of the body at the shoul- 

 ders four inches and a half; circumference at the thickest part 

 thirteen inches and a half; weight of the whole sixteen ounces and 

 a half troy. This bird was inclosed in a small earthen jar, with a 

 cover, used for such purpose, and brought with others from Thebes, 

 in Upper Egypt. The subject was inclosed in several layers or 

 bandages of cloth about three inches broad, saturated with some 

 resinous substance, rendering it very difficult to lay the parts bare 

 for inspection, without injury. It was so managed as to take up the 

 smallest space. The neck twisted, so as to place the crown of the 

 head on the body of the bird, a little to the left of the sternum : the 

 curved bill, with its concave part turned upwards, descended between 

 the feet, and reached the extremity of the tail ; each foot, with its 

 four claws, turned forwards, was bent upwards, and placed on each 

 side of the head ; and the wings brought close to the sides of the 

 body. All that could be learned was, that the plumage was white, 

 the feathers being tipped with dark brown at their extremities; the 

 tail could not be uncovered so as to determine the colour of it. The 



