Genesis 40:17

bakemeats LXX ἔργον σιτοποιοῦ, Lat. cibos qui fiunt arte pistoria: as we say, "all kinds of confectionery." The bakemeats are only in the top basket. If the birds took them, he had nothing in the other baskets to bring to Pharaoh's table.

the birds The birds, darting down upon the food and carrying it off, doubtless seemed of evil augury; cf. the appearance of the birds in Genesis 15:11. It was like a nightmare! The baker found himself powerless to frighten the birds away. The great kites in Egypt, the bird scavengers of the land, are always wheeling in the air, ready to pounce down upon choice morsels, if they see the slightest chance of carrying them off.