AFRICA. 



826 



accord, into the poultry yard, and feed with the domestic fowls. It walks with a slow and 

 stately gait, but, with the aid of its extended wings, is able to scud along with great rapidity. 

 Its voice is loud and sonorous ; in captivity, it is gende and familiar. 



The Egyptian Ibis (Ibis religiosa) is found in Lower Egypt, in places just freed from the 

 inundations of the Nile, where it is of great service in destroying insects, reptiles, &c. It is 

 frequently found in the sepulchres with the mummies, and was formerly held sacred by the 

 Egyptians. The Sociable Grosbeak (Ploceus socius), or JVeaver Bird, oi Southern Africa, 



Egyptian Ibis. Sociable IVcaeers. 



lives in communities of several hundreds. The Whidah Bird., or fVidoiv Bird, (Vidua para- 

 discea,) is a beautiful bird, of a closely allied genus, which is found on the Western Coast. It 



is rare ; but, in captivity, is lively and 

 active ; it changes its plumage twice a 

 y/fear. There are many other birds in 

 Africa which are worthy of notice, but 

 our space will not permit a description of 

 them here. 



1 1 . Inhabilanis. The Arabs and 

 Moors, who are now scattered all over 

 the northern parts of Africa, are of Asi- 

 atic orie;in. But there are, at least, four 

 great families of nations, strongly marked 

 by physical peculiarities, that appear to 

 be natives of the African continent. These 

 are the Berbers, in the north ; the JVe- 

 groes, in the centre ; and the Hollentots 

 and Caffres, in the south and east. Al- 

 though the northeastern part of Africa, or 

 the Nile valley, was once inhabited by 

 civilized nations, who had carried the arts 

 and sciences to a high degree of improve- 

 ment, and the northern coasts were, at subsequent periods, settled by numerous Phoenician, 

 Greek, and Roman colonies, and still later have been the seat of refined and polished Arab 

 States, yet the great mass of this continent has remained a stranger to the arts of improved life. 

 The natives nowhere have the art of writing ; no alphabet is found among them, and there is 

 nothing to indicate, that they have reached beyond some of the simplest useful arts. To the 

 Berber race, belong the Shilloos, Kabyls, Tuaries, Surhas, Tibboos, &.C., of the Atlas moun- 

 fains, and the res;ions to the south and east. There is a great diversity, however, among the 

 1 04 



Whidah Bird. 



