ibis. 166 



bird had probably attained the full growth, as the quills were such 

 as might be expected to be found in a bird of this size,* especially 

 if we allow of the one described by Dr. Forster, in the Phil. Trans. f 

 being the same, and which we have no good reason to doubt; 

 however, we must own, that great uncertainty has attended our 

 researches after what the ancient Egyptians specifically called the 

 Ibis, and ft is probable, that even more than one, or two, passed 

 under that name. Most authors agree in its having a white plumage, 

 with black quills and tail, and that the size is by no means small. 



Pliny} talks of two sorts, the one white, the other black, and that 

 both are from thirty to forty inches in length ; and the Abou Hannes 

 of Bruce,|[ if the same, is said to stand nineteen inches from the 

 back to the ground, when erect : these three, therefore, may be 

 included at least under one name, although they may even differ in 

 species. But the most convincing evidence has occurred within these 

 few years, from M. Cuvier§ having obtained the complete bones of 

 of one, from an embalmed subject, ascertaining, that it is of the Ibis 

 or Curlew Genus ; added to the detection of the complete bird by 

 Dr. Pearson, from two preserved specimens, brought, among other 

 mummies, from Thebes.^} The plumage of one was chiefly white, as 

 above mentioned ; of the other, from what could be known from the 

 decayed state it was in, chiefly brown, in some parts tipped with 

 white; neck and tail white. 



* One is said to be deposited in the Ornithological Museum at Paris, which had been 

 taken out of its case without injury to any of its feathers. See Ann. Mus. Nat. d'Hist. 

 Nat. Tom. i. p. 237. 



f For the year 1767, p. 349. in his account of the Volga. 



% Nat. Hist. lib. x. cap. 30. 



|| This author says, M. Buffon's Ibis is not in Egypt. 



§ See Annates du Mus. d'Hist. Nat. torn. iv. 



% Phil. Trans. 1805. 464. pi. viii. See also A Dissertation on Mummies in general, by 

 Dr. Blumenback— Phil. Trans. 1794. p. 177. The bill figured by Mr. Edwards, in his 

 PI. 105, seems to correspond, but the sharp points were added by his own conjecture, being- 

 broken ofF, as the engraving expresses, in the original subject. 



