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In addition to these passages, there are others in which our version introduces the owl without reason, as the original writers no doubt intended birds of another description.

The race of owls presents several varieties, all equally cruel and rapacious; and who add to their savage disposition the further reproach of treachery, by carrying on all their depredations by night. Thus, as Goldsmith remarks, there seems no link in Nature's chain broken, no where a dead, inactive repose; but every place, every season, every hour of the day and night, is bustling with life, and furnishing instances of industry, self-defence, and invasion.

The owl tribe, however they may differ in their size and plumage, agree in their general characteristics of preying by night, and having their eyes formed for nocturnal vision. In the eyes of all animals, the Author of their being has made a complete provision either to shut out too much light, or to admit a sufficiency, by the dilation and contraction of the pupil. As in the eyes of tigers and cats, that are formed for a life of nocturnal depredation, there is a quality in the retina that takes in the rays of light so copiously as to permit their seeing in places almost totally dark; so, in owls, there is the same conformation of that organ; and though, like us, they cannot see in a total exclusion of light, yet they are sufficiently quick-sighted at times when we remain in total obscurity. Besides this, there is an irradiation on the back of the eye, and the very iris itself has a faculty of reflecting the rays of light, so as to assist vision in the gloomy places these birds are found to frequent.

Predicting the desolation of Idumea, the prophet Isaiah says, her palaces shall be a resting place for the screech-owl' (Isaiah xxxiv. 14), whose horrid and terrifying cry would form a sad contrast to the melody of the harp and the tabret, which then resounded within their walls. But to show, probably, the extent and permanency of that desolation which was threatened, the prophet in the next verse represents the devoted country as becoming the constant abode of birds of prey, among which the one we are describing was to be found: There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay and hatch, and gather under her shadow.'

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THE Hebrew name of this bird, KER, was evidently taken from

its note

'I love to hear the cur

Of the night-loving partridge.'

Forskal mentions a partridge whose name in Arabic is kurr; and Latham says, that in the province of Audalusia, in Spain, its name is churr: both taken, no doubt, like the Hebrew, from its note. As this bird is so well known in every part of the world, a particular description is unnecessary.

There are only two passages of scripture in which the partridge is mentioned; but these will repay an attentive examination. The first occurs in the history of David, where he expostulates with Saul concerning his unjust and foolish pursuit of him: "The king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge on the mountains,' 1 Sam. xxvi. 20.

The learned Bochart objects to the partridge in this place, and contends that the ker is more likely to be the woodcock, since the partridge is not a mountain bird. This, however, is a mistake: there is a species of the partridge which exactly answers to the description of David; and those of Barakonda, in particular, are said to choose the highest rocks and precipices for their residence. The method by which Dr. Shaw states the Arabs to hunt the partridge, affords a lively comment on the words of the Psalmist: The Arabs have another, though a more laborious, method of catching these birds; for, observing that they become languid and fatigued after they have been hastily put up twice or thrice, they immediately run in upon

them, and knock them down with their zerwattys, or bludgeons.' It was precisely in this manner that Saul hunted David, coming hastily upon him, and putting him up from time to time, in hopes he should at length, by frequent repetitions of it, be able to destroy him.

In addition to this method of taking the partridge, Dr. Shaw states, that the Arabs are well acquainted with that mode of catching them, which is called tunnelling; and to make the capture the greater, they will sometimes place behind the net a cage, with some tame ones within it, which, by their perpetual chirping and calling, quickly bring down the coveys that are within hearing, and thereby decoy great numbers of them. This, he remarks, may lead us into the right interpretation of Eccles. xi. 30, which we render 'like as a partridge taken [and kept] in a cage, so is the heart of the proud ; but it should be, 'Like a decoy partridge in a cage, so is,' &c.

The other passage in which this bird is mentioned, is Jer. xvii. 11, As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.' It seems to be clear, says Mr. Taylor, that this bird sitteth on eggs not its own, to answer to the getting of riches not by right; from these eggs it is driven away, leaves them in the midst of his days, before the time for hatching is expired. But why should it be said of the partridge, rather than of any other bird, that it sitteth and hatcheth not? The reason is plain, when it is known, that this bird's nest being made on the ground, the eggs are frequently broken by the foot of man, or other animals, and she is often obliged to quit them by the presence of intruders, which chills the eggs, and renders them unfruitful. Rain and moisture also may spoil them. Observing that Buffon makes a separate species of the Barlavella, or Greek partridge, Mr. Taylor offers that as the proper bird meant in these passages. Belon informs us, 'that the bartavella keeps ordinarily among rocks; but has the instinct to descend into the plain to make its nest, in order that the young may find, at their birth, a ready subsistence.' 'It has another analogy with the common hen, which is, to sit upon (or hatch) the eggs of strangers, for want of its own. This remark is of long standing, since it occurs in the sacred books.' Now, if, in the absence of the proper owner, this Bartavella partridge sits on the eggs of a stranger, when that stranger returns to her nest, and drives away the intruder before she can hatch them, the partridge so expelled resembles a man in low circumstances, who has possessed himself for a time of the property of another, but is forced to relinquish his acquisition before he can render it profitable; which is the simile of the prophet, and agrees, too, with this place.

THE COCK AND HEN.

THESE well-known domestic birds do not appear to have been much known to the Israelites, at any period of their history; since the Hebrew Bible does not so much as furnish a name for them, and they are only once mentioned in the writings of the New Tes

tament.

The strong affection and tender care which the hen displays for her young, are so well known as to have become proverbial.

It is to these qualities in the character of the domestic hen, that our Lord alludes, in his pathetic address to the once 'holy city:" —'O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate,' a very beautiful image, denoting affection and protection. When the hen sees a bird of prey coming, she makes a noise to assemble her chickens, that she may cover them with her wings from the danger. The Roman eagle is about to fall upon the Jewish state; nothing can prevent this but their conversion to God through Christ; Jesus cries throughout the land, publishing the gospel of reconciliation; they would not assemble, and the Roman eagle came and destroyed them. How long had these thankless and unholy people been the objects of his tenderest cares! For more than two thousand years, they engrossed the most peculiar regards of the most beneficent Providence; and during the three years of our Lord's public ministry, his preaching and miracles had but one object and aim, the instruction and salvation of this thoughtless people. For their sakes, he who was rich became poor, that they through his poverty, might be rich; for their sakes he made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross! He died that THEY might not perish, but have everlasting life. Thus, to save their life, he freely abandoned his own.

turn regularly, at those seasons when their provision invites or repels them. They generally leave Europe at the latter end of Autumn, and return in the beginning of the summer. In the inland parts of the continent, they are seen crossing the country in flocks of fifty or a hundred, making from the northern regions towards the south. In these journeys they sometimes soar so high, however, as to be entirely out of sight; but then their tract is to be distinctly ascertained by their loud and peculiar clangor. To the instinctive precaution of these birds in securing themselves against the miseries of famine, by migrating from one part of the earth to another, there is a reference in Jer. viii. 7, where the blindness of the Jewish nation to the indications of approaching judgments is forcibly reproved: The crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the Lord.'

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THE external appearance of the stork differs little from that of the crane. It is of the same size; and has the same formation as to the bill, neck, legs, and body, except that it is something more corpulent. Its differences are but very slight; such as the color, which in the crane is ash and black, but in the stork is white and brown. The nails of the toes of the stork, also, are very peculiar, not being

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