Select Specimens of Natural History Collected in Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile. Volume 5.Bruce, James
History
Select Specimens of Natural History Collected in Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile. Volume 5.
Bruce, James
Natural history -- Egypt; Natural history -- Ethiopia; Nile River; Plants -- Egypt; Plants -- Ethiopia; Scientific expeditions -- Egypt
It would appear that this bird is part of a large tribe, the greatest
variety in which lies in his beak and horn. The horn he wears sometimes
upon the beak, and sometimes upon the forehead above the root of the
beak. These are the only parts that appear in collections. I gave to
the cabinet of the king of France the first bird of this kind seen
entire, and I have here exhibited the first figure and description
of it that ever was seen in natural history, drawn from the life. In
the east part of Abyssinia it is called Abba Gumba, in the language
of Tigré; on the western side of the Tacazzè it is called Erkoom; the
first of its names is apparently from the groaning noise it makes, the
second has no signification in any language that I know.
At Ras el Feel, in my return through Sennaar, I made this drawing from
a very entire bird, but slightly wounded; it was in that country
called Teir el Naciba, the bird of destiny. This bird, or the kind
of it, is by naturalists called the Indian crow, or raven; for what
reason it is thus classed is more than I can tell. The reader will see,
when I describe his particular parts, whether they agree with those of
the raven or not. There is one characteristic of the raven which he
certainly has, he walks, and does not hop or jump in the manner that
many others of that kind do; but then he, at times, runs with very
great velocity, and, in running, very much resembles the turkey, or
bustard, when his head is turned from you.
The colour of the eye of this bird is of a dark brown, or rather
reddish cast; but darker still as it approaches the pupil; he has very
large eye-lashes, both upper and lower, but especially his upper. From
the point of the beak to the extremity of the tail is 3 feet 10 inches;
the breadth from one point of the wing to the other extended, is 6
feet, and the length 22 inches. The length of the neck 10 inches, and
its thickness 3 inches and a half; the length of the beak measuring
the opening near the head straight to the point, 10 inches; and from
the point of the beak to the root of the horn 7 inches and 3/8ths.
The whole length of the horn is 3 inches and a half. The length of
the horn from the foot to the extremity where it joins the beak, is 4
inches. The thickness of the beak in front of the opening is one inch
and 7/8ths. The thickness of the horn in front is one inch and 5/8ths.
The horn in height, taken from the upper part of the point to the beak,
2 inches. The length of the thighs 7 inches, and that of the legs 6
inches and 5/8ths. The thickness in profile 7 lines, and in front 4
lines and a half. It has three toes before and one behind, but they are
not very strong, nor seemingly made to tear up carcases. The length of
the foot to the hinder toe is one inch 6 lines, the innermost is one
inch 7 lines, the middle 2 inches 2 lines, and the last outer one 2
inches one line.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account