Page:A voyage to Abyssinia (Salt).djvu/437

 occasionally draws over the whole ball of the eye, of a deep bright scarlet; tongue hard, bifid, and fitting exactly in the under mandible; beak dirty brown, with tufts of black hair growing on each side of the upper mandible, bending forwards, and almost covering the nostrils; tufts of the same on each side of the lower mandible, and a still larger one forming a beard underneath: the space round the eye, and in front of it, as well as an angle behind, deep black, giving a bright lustre to the eye; the head covered entirely with small dirty white feathers, which, as well as those of the neck, breast and belly, were tinged with a rusty brown; the colour of the feathers on the back, tail, and wings, of a fine deep glossy brown, with white ribs; feathers on the back of the neck standing erect, somewhat like a ruff; tail feathers ten in number, wedge-shaped, wing feathers twenty-six; extent from the tip of one wing to the other rather more than eight feet; the bird otherwise agreeing with the measurements given by Mr. Bruce; the whole of the body covered with a yellowish down. The other eagle, killed at the same time, was nearly of the same size and make, but rather the smaller of the two; but the head and neck were blacker; the under part of the body dusky brown; the small feathers of the wings lighter, and talons somewhat longer: this latter was supposed to be the male. (The drawing by Mr. Edwards of the bearded vulture gives no idea of this bird.) The other species is rare in the country, and has been described by Dr. Shaw under the name of the Falco occipitalis, or Occipital eagle. The drawing of this by Mr. Bruce is very correct. There is another species of falcon in the country, called by the natives Goodic-Goodic, which I conceive to be nearly allied to the Sacre. Its size is about the same as that of the common falcon; its feet and beak of a blueish tint; its general colour deep brown, approaching to black; and the whole of the breast of a clear white colour; so that it may be properly designated by the name of "The Abyssinian white-breasted Lanner." The Abyssinians entertain singular superstition respecting this bird. When they set out on a journey and meet with one of them, they watch it very carefully, and draw good or bad omens from its motions. If it sit still, with its breast towards them until they have passed, it is a peculiarly good sign, and every thing is expected to go on well during the course of the journey. If its back be turned towards them, it is considered an unpropitious sign, but not sufficiently so, as to create alarm. But if it should fly away hastily on their approach, some of the most superstitious among them will immediately return back to their homes, and wait till a more favourable opportunity for commencing their expedition occur. From this circumstance, and the resemblance of its form to those so frequently met with among the hieroglyphics in Egypt, I am led to suspect that this species may answer to the sacred hawk of that country, which was venerated by the ancient inhabitants.

Vast numbers of vultures are found throughout the country, which in the time of war follow the tracks of the armies. The largest of this genus which I met with seemed to be of a new