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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1841 Excerpt:...Egyptians thought it right to revere this animal." The goose was very common in every part of Egypt, as at the present day; but few mummies have been found of it, which is the more readily accounted for from its utility as an article of food, and as an offering for the altar. Among the minor Deities or Genii of the tombs, a duck-headed God is sometimes represented; but this bird does not appear to have held a rank among the sacred animals of Egypt. Horapollot says "the pelican was the type of a fool;" and relates a ridiculous story of the reason for this unenviable distinction. But he adds, "Since it is remarkable for the defence of its young, the priests consider it unlawful to eat it, though the rest of the Egyptians do so, alleging that it I Herodot. ii. 72. Horapollo, i. 53. It answered to the letter S, of Se, " a child." Horapollo, Hierog. i. 54. does not defend them with discretion like the goose, but with folly." This reason, however, at once impugns the truth of a statement which leads us to infer that they abstained from eating geese, since we know they were served at the tables of the priests themselves, and constituted one of the principal articles of food throughout the country. The pelican is sometimes eaten by the modern Egyptians; but it is very coarse and strong, and requires much cooking, to overcome the greasy properties of its flesh, and we cannot be surprised at the ordinance which forbade it to the Israelites. Its Hebrew name is Kath; and it is now commonly known in Egypt as the Gemmal el Bahr, or "camel of the river." FABULOUS BIRDS. Among fabulous birds, the Phoenix holds the first place; but this I have already mentioned t, as well as the Baietht, and the vulture with a snake's head.§...