962 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1896. 



term Nesher, which in the English Bible is invariably rendered "eagle," 

 comprises large birds of prey in general, and perhaps particularly the 

 griffon vulture. The golden eagle is (juite common in Palestine. At 

 least seven other distinct kinds have been observed. I^umerous refer- 

 ences are found in the Bible to the characteristics of the eagle: Its 

 high soaring in the air;' its molting, as a symbol of the renewing of 

 strength;- its strength;^ its predatory habits;^ its power of vision;^ 

 its care for its young, in comparison with God's sheltering care over 

 his people.'' The eagle, as emblematic of the divine attributes, is one 

 of the four living creatures in the vision of Ezekiel (i, 10) and in 

 the Apociilypse of John (iv, 7). It is also the emblem of John the 

 Evangelist. 



Hoopoe ( Upupa epops; Hebrew, Duhifath). — It is probable that the 

 Hebrew name duhifath, occurring in the list of unclean birds," denotes 

 the hoopoe, as the Revised Version translates it, and not the "lapwing," 

 as rendered by the Authorized Version. The hoopoe feeds on insects 

 in dunghills and marshy places, and is therefore considered a very 

 iiltliy bird. It is very common in Egypt, where it is found throughout 

 the winter. In Palestine it is a summer visitor. The Egyjitians con- 

 sidered the hoopoe as symbolical of gratitude, because it repays the 

 early kindness of its parents in their old age by trimming their wings 

 and bringing them food when they are acquiring new plumage. The 

 Arabs call it the "doctor," believing it to possess marvelous medicinal 

 qualities; and they use its head in charms and incantations. 



Owl. — Various Hebrew names are assigned by the English Version 

 to different species of owl — Yanshnf, Leviticus xi, 17; Deuteronomy 

 xiv, 16, "great owl;" Kos, in the same passage, "little owl.'' 



The owl belonged to the unclean birds, and is enumerated among the 

 animals inhabiting deserted and dismal places.^ The Egyptian eagle 

 owl {Bubo ascalaphits) and the little owl {Athene gJaux) are the most 

 common species in Palestine. The latter known by the name of Boomeh 



'Isaiah xl, 31: "They shall mount up with wings as eagles." Jeremiali xlix, 

 16, etc. 



2 '"Thy youth is renewed like the eagle." — Psalms ciii, 5. 



=*Hosea viii, 1: "As an eagle he cometh against the house of the Lord.' 



■•Job ix, 26: "As the eagle that swoopeth on the prey. Compare Proverbs xxx, 

 17; Matthew xxiv, 28. 



■'^Job xxxix, 28, 29: "She dwelleth on the rock, and hath her lodging there upon 

 the crag of the rock and the strong hold. From thence she spieth out the prey ; her 

 eyes behold it afar off."' 



•^Deuteronomy xxxii, 11: "As an eagle that stirreth up her nest, that flnttereth 

 over her young, he spread abroad his wings, he took them, he bare them on his 

 pinions." 



^Deuteronomy xiv, 18; Leviticus xi, 19. 



*These names are disputed; some translate Fa»?s7i»/by "water fowl;" Koshj peli- 

 can, or falcon. Lilith (Isaiah xxxiv, 14), which is rendered in the Authorized Version 

 by screech owl, in all probability means simply a specter. It is rendered in the 

 Revised Version " night inonstor." 



"Psalms cii, 6: "I am become as an owl of the waste places." 



